NISTA's Housing & Regeneration Director joins our 'Science Cities and New Towns' forum at Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst this May

Above: the Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Hertfordshire

Future Cities Forum is delighted that Karl Fitzgerald, Project Director/Commercial Adviser in the Housing and Regeneration Delivery Team at NISTA, is speaking at our ;Science Cities' forum at the Biocatalyst in Stevenage this May. Karl previously worked for the Infrastructure and Projects Authority.

Karl will be joining - among other contributors - UBS Asset Management, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst and Stevenage Borough Council's CEO, Tom Pike.

NISTA was formed on 1 April 2025 when it brought together the functions of the National Infrastructure Commission and the Infrastructure and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority.

It describes its mission:

'NISTA’s creation is part of a three-pronged strategy to tackle underinvestment and instability in the UK’s infrastructure systems. It will strengthen the institutional framework for infrastructure strategy and delivery and sits alongside the development of a 10-year infrastructure strategy to set a long-term vision, and the introduction of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to overcome planning obstacles.

'NISTA’s work is supported by a Council of Expert Advisers, which brings the impartial and expert advice of experienced practitioners into the infrastructure and policy delivery framework. The Council members also provide the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and relevant ministers with advice and assurance on individual major projects.

'Our core teams include experts in all elements of strategic infrastructure planning and project delivery, including long-term policy development, investment, economic analysis. NISTA’s project finance and project management profession capability works with government departments and industry on major projects across areas like defence, IT, transport and social infrastructure.'

At our February 2025 forum hosted by leading law firm DLA Piper Karl was asked about the deliverability of the just-announced third runway at London Heathrow Airport.

Karl said:

'We see the plans for the third runway at Heathrow as part of the UK government's ambition for growth and the ambitions for Luton Airport are also part of that. In terms of delivery, there are serious challenges around planning and the environment with the third runway. What will perplex NISTA is the deliverability of supply chains. There are now quite a number of projects in the infrastructure area trying to get going at the same time. The development of airports is being discussed and the water reservoirs in the east of England are in the offing, so there is a significant ramping up on the construction sector, which we need to keep a close eye on.

'There is value in these announcements and headlines in trying to make the UK look investable. A lot of people want the government to fail but I know there is optimism among those working in the infrastructure sector for these projects. However, we do have a dearth of professionals to carry them out. NISTA will have an increased capacity of system to deliver. There are many projects which NISTA will be delivering around digital for example that are not physical projects. The scope has yet to be finalised but it will be quite broad. Yes, departments need to be held to account but the formation of NISTA signals a massive machinery change, it is seismic really.'

At Future Cities Forum's previous infrastructure discussion in April 2024, Karl stated his concerns around the reform of the planning system. He was asked to reflect on his previous comments and whether he had changed his mind in reference to the UK government's wish to cut planning red tape. He said:

'I think I said I was against 'meddling and tinkering' which I still believe is profoundly unhelpful and induces delay. By doing this what signals are we sending out? I don't think it is helpful to downplay the planning system because it takes away confidence in the system and loses investments. It does have its challenges and it has been a cheap cop out to blame the system if those applying to it have failed to prepare properly. We should be looking at the planning system and where you can make the right changes. If changes avoid restricting peoples' rights and can also help start to move the system now at a decent pace, I am all for reforming it.'