# National Infrastructure Commission Canonical: https://web4.xpay.bi/en/wiki/wp-en-49828425/ Language: en Published: 2026-10-25T23:09:52.899Z Updated: 2026-10-25T23:09:52.899Z The National Infrastructure Commission was an executive agency responsible for providing expert advice to the UK Government on infrastructure challenges facing the UK, between 2015 and April 2025, when it was superseded by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA). ## Key facts ## Overview The National Infrastructure Commission was an executive agency responsible for providing expert advice to the UK Government on infrastructure challenges facing the UK, between 2015 and April 2025, when it was superseded by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA). Inaugurated in 2015, and established as an executive agency of HM Treasury in January 2017, one of the Commission's main tasks was to undertake a national infrastructure assessment during each Parliament. It also undertook studies in specific areas of infrastructure. The Commission made recommendations to the government, and monitored the government's progress on infrastructure. The commission instigated a series of reports into the UK energy market, improving transport within the London area, improving connectivity across the North of England, seeking to make the UK a world leader in 5G deployment, using technology to improve infrastructure productivity, addressing England's water supply challenges, and adapting the UK freight networks to meet growing demands for fast deliveries, among others. ## Purpose and history The Commission was the body responsible for providing independent analysis and advice to the Government to ensure the UK meets its long-term infrastructure needs. Its role was to support sustainable economic growth across all regions of the UK, improve competitiveness, and improve quality of life. It was established in October 2015. Chancellor George Osborne appointed Lord Adonis as interim chairman. In January 2017 the Commission was established as an executive agency of HM Treasury. In April 2017, Lord Adonis and Sir John Armitt were confirmed as the first permanent chair and deputy chair respectively, and four new commissioners (Dame Kate Barker, David Fisk, Andy Green and Julia Prescot) were appointed. Lord Adonis resigned in December 2017 citing concerns over Brexit and was replaced by former deputy chair, Sir John Armitt. Barker stepped down as a commissioner in March 2020, and Fisk stepped down in April 2022. In May 2024, ahead of the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the Labour Party announced plans to merge the Commission with the Infrastructure and Projects Authority in order to speed up the delivery of major infrastructure projects in the UK. The new body would be called the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA). In October 2024, Armitt's chairmanship was extended by six months to oversee development of a 10-year strategy and NISTA's creation. NISTA was established on 1 April 2025 as a joint unit of the Treasury and Cabinet Office, with Darren Jones as the responsible minister. ## Commissioners As of 21 August 2022. ## Secretariat The commissioners were supported by about 40 people who worked in the secretariat, made up of civil servants, including economists and policy generalists, as well as secondees from industry. ## National Infrastructure Assessment One of the NIC's main tasks was to undertake a national infrastructure assessment each parliament, making recommendations to the Government and then hold the Government to account on implementation. The Assessment looked at the UK’s future economic infrastructure needs up to 2050 and made recommendations for how to deliver new transport, low carbon energy and digital networks, how to recycle more and waste less, and how future infrastructure should be paid for. It aimed to ensure the UK is prepared for the technological advances that will change how the country operates. The first National Infrastructure Assessment was published in July 2018, and the second was published in October 2023. ## Studies and reports The commission published reports on infrastructure in the UK as well as recommendations for its improvement. ## Smart Power (March 2016) The first report, published in March 2016, looked into the UK energy market, exploring how supply and demand can better be balanced as well as making recommendations for future infrastructure programmes. ## Transport for a World City (March 2016) The second report explored options for improving transport within and around the London area and strongly advocated the construction of Crossrail 2 as its main proposal. ## High Speed North (March 2016) This report explored options for improving connectivity across the North of England. Options include High Speed 3, upgrades to the motorway network, investment in conventional railways and a new Trans-pennine Tunnel. ## Connected Future (December 2016) Connected Future explored what the UK needed to do to become a world leader in 5G deployment and take early advantage of the potential applications of 5G services. The commission found that Britain was 54th in the world for 4G and that the UK government and the communications regulator, Ofcom, needed to ensure that essential outdoor mobile services, such as basic, text and data use, were available all across the UK. In anticipation of 5G, the UK had to improve mobile connectivity on railways, roads and in towns and cities. ## Data for the Public Good (December 2017) In November 2016, the government asked the commission to conduct a new study on how technology can improve infrastructure productivity. The study was published in December 2017. ## Preparing for a drier future (April 2018) Published ahead of the National Infrastructure Assessment, this study set out the Commission’s advice on how to address England’s water supply challenges and deliver the appropriate level of resilience for the long term. ## Sources - National Infrastructure Commission · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/?curid=49828425 Source: Wikipedia contributors — https://en.wikipedia.org/?curid=49828425&oldid=1378545091 Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Adaptation notice: Reformatted for XPay; the source may be abridged, restructured or translated. Consult the cited revision for the original.