UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he wants the UK to “build back greener” as he laid out the Government’s plans for £5bn of infrastructure spending.
Johnson insisted he wants to greener investments to aid the post-Covid-19 economic recovery as part of a national infrastructure spending package unveiled today.
Speaking in the West Midlands the prime minister said: “We have the opportunity to do things differently, to do things better and we must build, build, build”.
The package of measures include a National Infrastructure Strategy, due to be published in the autumn, which will lay out plans for “core economic infrastructure, including energy networks, road and rail, flood defences and waste”.
The government will also conduct a new spending review on how public sector land can be managed and be “put to better use”.
Johnson said this will include provisions for contributing to net zero goals and improving the environment.
He also said the government would “push forward” with its manifesto commitment to reforms to the planning system which would include a commitment to low-carbon homes.
The government will publish a planning paper next month aiming for “comprehensive reform of England’s seven-decade old planning system” to make it work for a modern economy and society.
RenewableUK strategic communications director Luke Clark said: “We welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to building back greener.
“Wind, solar and hydrogen are rightly highlighted as technologies in which we lead the world, and there are huge benefits for our economy to ramping up renewables, as well as developing EVs, battery storage and other new technologies.
“We can secure billions of pounds of investment to build the infrastructure revolution needed to deliver a green recovery, meet our net zero emissions target and achieve the Government’s aim of levelling up all parts of the UK.”