A body set up to give Wales the best opportunity for future economic success has released its first annual report and revealed the areas it will target.
The National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (NICW) was formed a year ago to advise and make recommendations to Welsh Ministers on Wales’ economic and environmental infrastructure needs.
Its inaugural report states that energy, digital communications and transport will be the focus for the coming year.
The development of the body’s infrastructure plan is in its early stages but the NICW has reached some provisional views for which it now seeks evidence and has identified ten key issues on which it will focus in the coming year.
Transport:
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Improving connectivity along the strategic East West Wales corridors to/from England, in North East and South East Wales is a transport priority. They want to increase capacity and reduce congestion on routes like the A55/A494 and the M4.
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They say the economic case for major road and rail developments between North and South Wales is not strong. But add that connectivity between North and South Wales could be improved by supplementary developments like improved passing places and rest facilities and improved rolling stock.
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Wales’ road infrastructure must be ready for the move to zero emissions vehicles by 2040 at the latest says the commission. They want evidence to better understand how the transition to zero emission road transport can be enabled.
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They want evidence to better understand how transport in rural Wales can be improved.
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A look at what can be done to reduce the need for travel in Wales is also an issue raised.
Digital
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While a significant number of premises in Wales still don’t have access to superfast broadband, they say the primary focus for public funds should be on extending superfast broadband to as many households as possible using the lowest cost technology. But they add that the public funds that would be required to extend fibre to every home in Wales by 2033 should be assessed against other possible uses.
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4G and 5G mobile broadband may be the lowest cost technology to provide superfast connections to some Welsh households. Therefore, their provisional view is that a greater proportion of public funds should be allocated to mobile as opposed to fixed broadband infrastructure or other infrastructure objectives.
Energy
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They want to understand how the existing electricity grid is constraining the growth of renewable electricity generation and why these constraints arise.
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The commission wants evidence on the potential for commercial scale cost effective marine energy generation in Wales and the measures that are required to realise it.
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They say community-based infrastructure projects could have an important role to play in transforming the energy supply chain, as well as in meeting other infrastructure challenges such as community broadband.
The commission has now issued a call to all interested parties to submit their views and evidence on key issues in its first report.
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By November 2021 the commission will set out a plan for Wales’ infrastructure, which will enable the Welsh Government to develop an affordable strategy for the nation's infrastructure needs.
Interim Chair of the NICW, John Lloyd Jones, OBE, said: “This report sets out our early thinking and identifies priorities for further investigation.
"But we must stress that this is still early in the process and we will not rush to make recommendations to the Welsh Ministers until we have found compelling evidence for infrastructure solutions.
"Commissioners have been eager to engage a wide variety of users and providers of infrastructure to understand their aspirations and concerns for the future. Wales is a diverse country with differing needs.
"During the year we have visited North, Mid and South Wales to hear about the opportunities and challenges in different parts of the country. We are grateful to the many people who have helped us.
"We will produce our first 'state of the nation' report by November 2021.”
Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James said: “Developing infrastructure that contributes to growing our economy in a sustainable and responsible way is vital.
“I look forward to receiving its firm recommendations in due course, to which the Welsh Government will formally respond.”
The is open until 27 March 2020.