Politics Home | Yes we can! Why 2026 will be the Year for the UK to Accelerate Infrastructure Delivery

This year marks a critical pivot point for our economy: the moment we must seize the advantage of physical delivery, transforming the £725 billion National Infrastructure Pipeline into the productive reality our economy desperately requires.

The mindset now must be one of profound acceleration. While the wider UK economy remains in a cycle of steady recovery, better infrastructure is an engine for growth. With the sector forecast to expand by over 4% this year—significantly outstripping general construction—the mandate for those leading the built environment has changed. We were never just designing assets, but the infrastructure sector is now critical to delivering the essential transformations for a decarbonised, digitally-native, inclusive, exciting, employment-generating and re-industrialised Britain.

The Legislative Catalyst: The 2025 Act

One of the most significant catalysts to begin the year is the Planning and Infrastructure Act, which became law in December 2025. This legislation, coupled with the sweeping National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) reforms, provides the “grease on the wheels” necessary for delivery. The subordinate regulations, on which delivery of these reforms relies, must now be put in place at pace.

By streamlining the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime and reinstating mandatory housing targets of 370,000 homes annually, the changes will begin to decouple vital projects from the planning limbo that previously undermined investor confidence.

We look forward to the immediate impact on major schemes like the Lower Thames Crossing, which is on track for site preparation this year ahead of tunnelling in 2028, and the next generation of much-needed reservoirs. The impact of these reforms is equally vital for our most complex transport NSIPs; we are seeing renewed momentum for the East West Rail link as it moves towards its final stage of consultation, and so too for the Heathrow expansion, where the government’s updated National Policy Statement (NPS) review is finally providing the clarity needed for a globally significant hub.

And as of the landmark announcement on 14th January, the formalisation of the next phase of Northern Powerhouse Rail signals that the era of strategic, cross-boundary connectivity has finally arrived. This is no longer just about track and signalling; it is about unlocking the economic potential of our Northern cities.

These strategic corridors are now part of a broader landscape where new NPPF provisions facilitate the release of ‘Grey Belt’ land—prioritising underperforming Green Belt areas for the sustainable housing and commercial development that many of Britain’s underperforming regions so desperately want. By aligning major transport hubs with new housing targets, we are finally building infrastructure and communities in tandem rather than in isolation.

Crucially too, the Act’s “First Ready, First Connected” reforms are unblocking the grid. For the first time we are seeing a meritocratic approach to energy infrastructure, ensuring that high-yield wind and solar projects are no longer languishing behind “zombie” schemes in the transmission queue.

And by limiting meritless judicial reviews to a single attempt and introducing Spatial Development Strategies to coordinate cross-boundary growth, the Act restores confidence. This allows investors to mobilise technical expertise with the confidence that a project’s start date signals the beginning of value creation.

The Talent Bottleneck

Of course, any CEO who looks at 2026 with unalloyed optimism is ignoring the industry’s greatest headwind: the skills crisis. We are currently facing a shortfall of roughly 250,000 workers required by 2028. This is no longer just a shortage of “boots on the ground”; it is a deficit of the specialised civil engineers, high-voltage technicians, and the environmental scientists needed to navigate complex regulations in support of our much loved and valued natural landscape.

We should use the Act’s provisions to let local planning authorities set their own fees—likely increasing them—and direct new habitat development funds toward both project outcomes and building capacity in local authorities and national agencies. We must also make careers in the built environment the top choice for a generation motivated by climate action and delivery of long-term social value.

The AI Revolution: Beyond the Hype

At WSP, our “Future Ready” philosophy has always been about designing for a world 20 or 40 years away. In 2026, that foresight will be put to the ultimate test as technology continues to move from the innovation lab to the active site office. Today, AI-driven generative design and digital twins are no longer aspirational; they are standard requirements because they are proven to deliver value for our clients.

By leveraging real-time data, we are seeing 15% to 20% improvements in project delivery timelines. These tools allow us to identify structural clashes before a spade hits the ground and predict supply chain bottlenecks weeks before they occur. In a sector where margins are notoriously thin, this digital maturity is our best defence against the “higher-for-longer” cost environment that some feel has become the new normal. It ensures we provide the taxpayer and private investors with the project certainty and value for money they rightly demand.

Nature and Growth: No Longer a Binary Choice

2026 will also be a year of reckoning for our environmental commitments. The Planning Act’s introduction of the Nature Restoration Fund and Environmental Delivery Plans represents a pragmatic “win-win” for both growth and nature, provided they are properly regulated and supported. By allowing developers to pay a levy into a strategic fund rather than undertaking piecemeal, site-specific assessments, we are finally moving toward a more efficient way of protecting our environment while allowing schemes to progress at a decent pace.

Equally, this is the year our wider decarbonisation commitments must move from targets to tangible results. The public—and our investors—are no longer satisfied with promises of sustainability in the distant future. They demand to see carbon-conscious project delivery in the here and now. Whether through the adoption of HVO fuels, low-carbon cement, or the network reinforcements to support ever more electrification, green resilience is now a commercial and contractual prerequisite for every major project.

A Call to Action

As we look ahead, the mission for 2026 is clear.  We have a 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, the 2025 Act to streamline delivery, the best built environmental professionals in the world, and the technological tools. We also have our collective will to succeed—government, industry, businesses and communities alike—to drive a bigger economy, a better environment, cleaner cities and rivers, and a brighter future for the next generation.

The cranes on our skyline this year will be more than just signs of construction; they will be symbols of a nation building its future. It is time for us to seize this moment and prove that we can deliver the homes, the power, and the transport links that Britain needs. The legislation for speed is in place; now we must get to work.

About the Author

Paul is the President and Managing Director of WSP UK & Ireland. He oversees WSP’s strategic priorities and client delivery across the UK and Ireland, reinforcing the firm’s capabilities in critical growth markets, including infrastructure, environment, water, property, and energy. 

 Paul has a particular passion for promoting economic regeneration, building valuable long-term client relationships, and supporting the decarbonisation of the UK.  

 Prior to joining WSP in 2022, he was the Managing Director of Stantec UK, Managing Partner at Peter Brett Associates, and chaired the Association for Consultancy and Engineering between 2020 and 2021. Paul attended Cambridge University and Harvard Business School.