The Scottish Government has published its Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011, as heralded in our e-update of 30 November. Announcing plans to spend up to £60bn between now and 2030, the plan outlines more than 50 proposals, a number of which are of interest to those operating in the construction and PFI/PPP sectors. Fifty-four major infrastructure projects are identified, in sectors including transport, schools, hospitals and housing.
Key elements of the plan include:
- The dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2025, with a view to completing dualling of the A96 and the dualled road network between all of Scotland's cities by 2030
- Completion of the Forth Crossing by 2016
- Investment in substantial rail improvements, including the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Project (EGIP)
- A contribution of £8-9bn towards the high speed rail route between North West England and Scotland
- Delivery of a number of health projects, including, the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, the Sick Kids' Hospital, Edinburgh, redevelopment at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary, the NHS Ayrshire and Arran Mental Health & Community Hospital and the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service
- A continuing programme of building new and improving existing schools, and creation of new colleges in Glasgow, Inverness and Kilmarnock
- The Aberdeen Peripheral Route/A90 Balmedie Upgrade and M8 improvements
- Delivery of 30,000 new homes over the life of this Parliament.
Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment said:
"We have been crystal clear that we view capital investment as the vital foundation to lead us out of tough economic times. That is why, against the back drop of Westminster cuts in our capital budget, the Scottish Government has switched spending from revenue to capital and put in place a £2.5 billion Non-Profit Distributing pipeline. As a consequence of Scottish Government spending decisions, total capital spending in Scotland will rise by 25% by 2014-15.
"We will do this by using innovative financing methods, driving maximum value for every single pound of taxpayers' money. That is crucial in the face of Westminster cuts.
"And we will utilise whatever borrowing powers we are able to access over coming years. Indeed, if the UK Government listens to our calls for more substantial and immediate powers than contained in the Scotland Bill, we could do even more."
The Scottish Government is inviting views on the plan, and says that it will review the plan in light of any views given. Account will also be taken of changing borrowing powers, other changes of circumstance, and in any event the plan will be reconsidered at each spending review.
The full text of the plan can be accessed here.
Disclaimer
The material contained in this article is of the nature of general comment only and does not give advice on any particular matter. Recipients should not act on the basis of the information in this e-update without taking appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances.
