British gov't announces new infrastructure plan

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, December 4, 2013
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The British government on Wednesday announced a new national infrastructure plan, expecting an investment of 375 billion pounds (613 billion U.S. dollars) for infrastructure from both public and private sectors by 2030.

The National Infrastructure Plan sets out investment for energy, transport, flood defense, waste, water and communications infrastructure up to 2030 and beyond.

According to the plan, the British government will sell its 40 percent stake in Eurostar, the high-speed rail service connecting London with Paris and Brussels, as part of a privatization drive.

Meanwhile, six major insurers have announced plans to collectively invest 25 billion pounds in Britain's infrastructure over the next five years.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said the insurers' investment plan is "a massive vote of confidence in the UK economy."

"It supports the wider 100 billion pounds public investment to rebuild Britain over the next seven years that I announced at the Spending Round 2013."

"Underground, overground, on shore, offshore, wired or wireless, tarmac or train track. You name it, we're building it right now," Alexander said.

"This is great news for the people of the UK because after years of neglect, the UK's energy, road, rail, flood defense, communications and water infrastructure needs renewal."

"It will boost the UK economy creating jobs and making it easier to do business. It will also make the UK a better place to live for everyone who calls it their home," he said.

According to the plan, the British government will sign an agreement with Hitachi and Horizon to support the financing of the development of a new nuclear power station at Wylfa in North Wales.

It will also provide a further 50 million pounds for a full redevelopment of the railway station at Gatwick Airport, and take forward steps to convert public sector car fleets to electric vehicles by investing 5 million pounds in a pilot during the year 2014 to 2015.

It also plans to enable around 95 percent of British families to have access to superfast broadband by 2017, open crossrail in 2018 to increase London's rail capacity by 10 percent. Endi

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