Member Article

£1,000 prize for best Northern infrastructure ideas

Think tank IPPR North has launched a competition to find the best idea for a new major infrastructure in the North of England.

The organisation, which operates Newcastle and Manchester offices, is offering a £1k prize to the winning idea which should rival major schemes in existence across London and the South East.

The Great North Plan competition is open to people under the age of 25 and asks for ideas that will address future infrastructure needs in 2050.

IPPR North will also be running a simultaneous competition aimed at industry professionals. This competition is asking for submissions of detailed and commercially viable projects which are at an advanced stage of development.

Ed Cox, director or IPPR North, said: “Effective infrastructure is a key ingredient for an effective and efficient economy. Train and tram lines, roads, bridges, bus stations, flood defences, wind farms, solar panel and super high-speed broadband networks are all vital in driving regional growth.

“It is widely recognised that the North of England loses out as government spending on infrastructure is continuously skewed towards London and the South East. If the North is to receive its share of the money, then it must come up with big, innovative project ideas that are worth investing in.

“Through the competition, we hope to identify a small number of large-scale infrastructure projects that could have a transformative effect on the northern, and national, economy.

“Some ideas may initially seem unconventional and unrealistic, but given further thought and support, may hold real merit and provide infrastructure solutions for the future. This will also help to create a sense of ambition and drive in the North of England.”

For more information on the competition, visit the Great North Plan website here.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .