Global Infrastructure - Public Satisfaction and Priorities - Oct 2016

Transport

Three-quarters of the public, 75%, rate airports positively.

The public are more positive about the motorway/major road network than the local road network

Ratings are worst for rail infrastructure (track/stations); despite slightly higher levels of ‘don’t know’ relative to roads, a higher proportion rate rail infrastructure negatively.

Housing supply

59% of the public rate new housing supply as fairly or very poor in Britain.

This includes 27% rating this as very poor.

Other Ipsos research has found a strong conviction that housing supply is inadequate in terms of quantity and quality.

Environment & energy

The public are more negative than positive about flood defences by a margin of 2:1.

42% are positive about energy-generation infrastructure (excluding nuclear), but 34% are negative, and 24% say they don’t know.

Even more, 34%, do not offer an opinion on nuclear infrastructure but, among those who do, the balance is more negative than positive.

Other utilities

20% rate water supply and sewerage as very good, with a further 55% judging it fairly good.

This makes this the top-rated infrastructure in Britain (although only just above airports).

Broadband attracts worse ratings although the 34% very/fairly poor compares to 59% very/fairly good.

Attitudes

60% agree that ‘we are not doing enough to meet our infrastructure needs’, while 70% are of the view that investment in infrastructure is vital to future economic growth.

Twice as many are comfortable with the idea of foreign investment in new infrastructure (42% against 20%) if it means that projects can be delivered more quickly.

At the same time, though, 67% justify delays to infrastructure projects if it means that local communities’ views can be heard properly.

Priorities

Priorities for investment are housing supply (48% choose this from a list), flood defences (45%) and rail infrastructure (44%).

44% back Government borrowing money to fund investment in better/more infrastructure, with 16% opposed and 40% unsure either way.  

Summary

• Public accept case for investment in infrastructure.

• Wide variation in ratings of different types of infrastructure: new housing supply and rail among top priorities (new housing supply is especially weak by global standards).

• Public more comfortable than not with idea of foreign investment if it speeds progress. But also resistant to compromising proper hearing of local communities’ views.