Civil engineers form panel to drive Northern Powerhouse infrastructure

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has formed a Northern Powerhouse Panel to inform infrastructure policy across the North of England.

The panel, a group of infrastructure and policy experts, held its first meeting at KPMG’s offices in Leeds on Monday (Dec 7th). At the meeting, the panel members set out their key objectives, designed to get the best infrastructure solutions from the Northern Powerhouse.

The panel aims to establish the ICE as the authority on Northern Powerhouse infrastructure policy, to ensure that the Northern Powerhouse is more than Manchester and considers the North in its entirety, and to shape the implementation of the Northern Powerhouse initiative, drawing upon local expertise and experience within ICE’s membership.

Richard Threlfall, Chairman of the panel, head of Infrastructure at KPMG, said: “The ICE can draw on the vast expertise of its membership to inform the development of infrastructure priorities under the Northern Powerhouse initiative, and to ensure that its benefits are felt throughout the north.”

Penny Marshall, regional director of ICE in Yorkshire and Humber, and the North East, added: “Forming the Northern Powerhouse Panel gives the ICE the opportunity to make practical and positive contributions to the future of infrastructure in the North East and Yorkshire. Working with the ICE’s national policy team the panel will add to our own work on the Northern Powerhouse, contribute to the National Infrastructure Commission’s call for evidence on northern transport connectivity, and engage with decision makers and local stakeholders.”

Darrell Matthews, regional director for ICE in the North West, also commented: “ICE has involved experts from all parts of the north of England, to ensure there is a balanced view of priorities, and that we add to the debate from a position of knowledge and experience.”

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