Construction boss positive on UK infrastructure

The chief executive of construction firm Balfour Beatty has predicted long-term growth in UK construction, as a result of the UK government’s current investment plans.

Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive

The Financial Times reported Leo Quinn as saying, “If you start to look at infrastructure and you look at HS2 [the UK’s €125 billion high-speed rail network], you look at nuclear…you look at the green agenda…we are entering into an era of 10 years of infrastructure growth. I think the future looks very optimistic.”

In partnership with the French construction giant Vinci, and also with the engineering group Systra, Balfour Beatty has currently secured projects on HS2 valued at over €7 billion.

The company is also heavily involved in the construction of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in southwest England.

In the Financial Times article, Quinn’s words were echoed by Ben Loomes, CEO of UK infrastructure investor, John Laing, who said, “We continue to see good investment opportunities in our core sectors of transport and social infrastructure.”

He added, “We are seeing a growing number of opportunities in new infrastructure linked to decarbonisation, such as the electrification of transport.”

As part of the ‘levelling up’ proposals recently announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the UK government is expected to invest some €36 billion in areas outside of London, to achieve emissions targets and improve urban infrastructure.