The government needs to prioritise the investment in and management of the UK’s ageing infrastructure if it is to avoid inevitable outages and disruption to critical services, according to a report by the National Engineering Policy Centre, led by the Royal Academy of Engineering.

The report, which looks at flood defences, water infrastructure, roads, bridges and railways, was developed by expert engineers and asset managers and highlights how climate change and extreme weather events are stressing structures like roads, bridges, water systems and flood defences. Without timely and planned intervention, the report warns that disruption will be become more frequent, potentially impacting public safety, the economy and the environment.

The challenges associated with ageing infrastructure are illustrated by recent closures of major landmarks such as 67-year-old Clifton Bridge in Nottingham, 138-year-old Hammersmith Bridge in London, and 160-year-old Nuneham Viaduct near Oxford. The resulting lack of access to these essential transport links has caused widespread gridlock for people living and working in those areas. Many of these assets were built in the late 19th and 20th centuries and are now operating at, or near, capacity. 

The report recommends 15 urgent actions, including steps to move away from the ‘fix it when it breaks’ approach to ‘monitor and maintain, as well as taking measures to address a growing skills gap in rail, water and civil engineering to ensure there are enough workers to maintain increasingly complex infrastructure systems.

Dr Steve Denton, Royal Academy of Engineering vice president and chair of the NEPC working group on ageing infrastructure, said: “Much of the UK’s essential infrastructure was built decades ago and many assets need immediate attention to ensure they can continue to support the services on which people and the economy depend. After years of underinvestment in maintenance, our approach to managing our ageing infrastructure must change.

“Our existing infrastructure is too often taken for granted and it is only when essential services are compromised because of unplanned closures or maintenance that it gets attention. This will only become more acute with accelerating decline, heightened demand and the impact of climate change. We must value our existing infrastructure and those who maintain and manage it more highly.”

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