In the report, Joining the Dots: a new approach to tackling the UK’s infrastructure challenges, the trade body argued that there is an opportunity to improve the returns from investing in transport by encouraging the development of high quality new housing alongside it to meet local needs.
However, this opportunity is being missed because of the government’s “flawed analytical system” that fails to respond to local circumstances, with all infrastructure handled by central government.
Its research found that as many as 70% of British adults are more likely to support new housing developments in their area if there is also a clear plan to improve transport links alongside the housing plans.
The RIBA report makes a number of recommendations to improve the decision-making framework. These include giving housing and employment greater importance in the decision-making process for transport infrastructure projects and increasing the devolution of power and resources for infrastructure and housing to local and regional leaders.
Ben Derbyshire, president of RIBA, said that the nation is “gripped by an escalating housing crisis” and a new approach that brings together the government’s “disparate systems and processes” is needed.
He continued: “We encourage the Government to take heed of these common-sense recommendations and eradicate the barriers to improving our infrastructure and housing.”
