London Councils joins our 'Infrastructure, construction and energy' forum

Above: Dianna Neal of London Councils (courtesy London Councils)

Future Cities Forum is delighted that Dianna Neal, Strategic Lead: Enterprise, Economy and Skills, at London Councils, will be joining our 'Infrastructure, construction and energy' discussion this week at RPC LLP, alongside the Infrastructure & Projects Authority, National Grid ESO, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, MEPC / Federated Hermes and EDF Renewables.

Dianna has worked in local government in different roles for over 25 years. For the past 20 years she has worked on economic development, skills, employment and cultural policy in London. This involved overseeing related grants programmes and making the case for devolved resources in London such as the Work and Health programme and adult skills. Dianna also supports London boroughs to collaborate, such as the development of the London Infrastructure Framework in 2023 which identified infrastructure projects of strategic value in the capital.

Currently she leads on economic, employment and skills policy for London Councils.

Last May, London boroughs unveiled a list of key infrastructure projects needed to secure “a more prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable” future for the capital. London Councils stated:

'For the first time, all 33 of the capital’s local authorities agreed an infrastructure framework on a cross-party, pan-London basis, with the aim of using infrastructure investment to boost prosperity, reduce inequalities, and help achieve net zero across the capital.

'Launched by the umbrella group London Councils, the London infrastructure framework identifies major development opportunities for stimulating economic growth – ranging from extending the Bakerloo line through to a sewage-powered domestic heating scheme.

'Alongside the launch of the framework highlighting opportunities for growth, London Councils emphasised the capital’s immense social and economic challenges. London currently has the highest unemployment in the UK and its productivity growth has stagnated, while boroughs are also determined to strengthen the capital’s climate resilience and make faster progress towards decarbonisation.  

'The framework, which has been developed with the boroughs by the economic consultancy Metro Dynamics and through close working with the Greater London Authority and Transport for London, will help address these challenges by promoting more efficient planning and delivery of infrastructure and enabling a more united pan-London voice to support projects in accessing funding.

'With boroughs acknowledging the opportunities require significant funding from central government or private investment partners such as pension funds, London Councils is also calling for a new devolution deal to support the infrastructure ambitions.

'Boroughs argue further devolution incorporating gainshare principles would enable them to retain and invest more of the proceeds of locally driven growth in the capital in return for London generating a higher rate of growth for the UK.

'In total, 67 projects are included in the infrastructure framework based on boroughs’ strategic priorities and the classification used by the National Infrastructure Commission. The priorities focus on embedding inclusive and sustainable growth, and example projects include:

• Connected London, which is currently delivering 2,000km of full fibre connectivity across the London Underground, bringing city-wide connectivity improvement and readying London for 5G.

• Waterloo City Hub. A redesign of the roundabout, roads, and surrounding public realm at Waterloo will unlock and support growth as well as improve local connectivity, particularly towards the South Bank.

• Bakerloo line extension to south-east London. The proposed extension of the Bakerloo line would support the development of over 110,000 new homes and 130,000 jobs across the capital.

• Elizabeth line continuation to Kent. Extending the new line beyond Abbey Wood and into Kent.  

• Sewage-powered domestic heating scheme in Kingston. Excess heat recovered from the sewage treatment process could be used to power more than 2,000 homes thanks to a new carbon-cutting partnership between Kingston Council and Thames Water.