The Linear Infrastructure Planning Panel (LIPP)

Delighted that the Panel's work has been included as a use case by the OECD - OCDE as a collaborative approach to AI governance! https://lnkd.in/e6zGrwFE #AI #planning

Great to see the work of the Panel included in the Environmental Audit Select Committee's Report on Enabling the sustainable electrification of the economy The Committee's Report, which was published just before the dissolution of Parliament, picks up the Panel's recommendations on community engagement and the need for a more coherent and adaptable planning process https://lnkd.in/erYZ7jnB Royal Town Planning Institute Connected Places Catapult Royal Academy of Engineering

Read our Chair Sharon Darcy's latest blog for the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) on fast- track infrastructure planning.

A transformation is underway in the world of infrastructure planning to help achieve net zero, boost resilience and assist nature recovery. The Linear Infrastructure Planning Panel's new White Paper 👇 reveals how to accelerate the pace at which infrastructure projects are planned, consented and delivered. "New planning technologies have the potential to help infrastructure to be delivered faster, greener, in the right places and with greater community acceptance – and lower cost," says Sharon Darcy, Panel Chair. "For this potential to be realised, a significant transformation in our approach to planning must occur. Our white paper outlines how to achieve this change." The LIPP report highlights the need: * For government, regulators and project developers to ensure the trustworthiness and security of new planning technologies. * For regulators to incentivise the use of new tech and the creation of markets in this area, supporting developer procurement practices that align with these goals. "Adopting new technologies for infrastructure planning isn't just about improving efficiency; it's about reimagining how we engage with communities, maintain decision-making legitimacy, and overcome collective problems," says Darcy. Wei Yang, CEO, Digital Task Force for Planning, who was at the launch event commented: "Planning for new infrastructure and housing worked for the UK in the post-war years because it was considered a crucial positive force — key to addressing severe national challenges. We can make planning work for the UK again - it needs genuine collaboration and a long-term approach, utilising digitally enabled methods that are now at our disposal.”   Rachel McEwen, Head of Sustainability, SSE, added: "New developments involve trade offs and sometimes those trade offs are going to inevitably disadvantage but it's only by admitting they are hard and collaborating that these developments can go ahead" Jim Kitchen, National Infrastructure Manager at the Environment Agency asked: "We have areas of the Country – like the east of England, where numerous infrastructure developers are supplying separate environmental information for their projects. Why can’t we just have a centralised single place where everyone can share and re-use their approved data?" Sue Chadwick, Strategic and Digital Planning Advisor, Pinsent Masons added: “...I was immensely proud to be part of this. We covered some truly difficult questions but managed to end on a note of hope, collaboration and enthusiasm….” #infrastructure #planning

We are very proud that the Panel's case study has just been featured in the Government's Responsible Technology Adoption Unit Portfolio of Assurance Techniques – a collection of tools for evaluating the trustworthiness of AI systems for anyone involved in developing, deploying, or procuring them. Take a look 👉 https://lnkd.in/enQu_TCt  #trustworthy #AI

Today, the LIPP Linear Infrastructure Planning Panel (LIPP) has unveiled its new report highlighting the critical urgency to update the UK's infrastructure planning and delivery processes. The white paper highlights a pivotal moment in the realm of infrastructure planning and development. Amidst the UK's ambitious targets for reaching net zero by 2050, there's a clear need to expedite the planning, scoping, consenting, and delivery phases of essential infrastructure projects. This week, the ESO's 'Beyond 2030' report underscored this urgency, calling for an additional £58 billion investment into electricity networks by 2035—a daunting task that includes the approval and construction of 1,000 miles of power cables and pylons. There is vast potential for new planning technologies to revolutionise how infrastructure projects are delivered—faster, greener, with greater community acceptance, and at lower cost. However, a significant transformation in our approach to planning is imperative to unlock this potential. The white paper released by the panel today provides actionable steps towards realising this transformative change. Royal Town Planning Institute National Infrastructure Commission National Grid ESO #infrastructure #planningpermission

Not long to wait! Next Wednesday we will be launching our first white paper: Delivering net zero, resilience and nature recovery: How new tools and approaches can transform infrastructure planning Innovative techniques are already shaking up the planning system, but we need to move faster.  This white paper sets out the actions needed to unlock transformative change As Lord Charles Banner KC begins his review of the planning and delivery of national infrastructure projects, this couldn't be more timely Karen Barrass Ada Hoi Yee Lee Rosie Pearson Eric Brown #infrastructure #planning #netzero

The Panel's latest briefing is here - https://lnkd.in/d9RMVrvW

What makes new tools and approaches for linear infrastructure planning trustworthy?  Advanced algorithms and AI are already being used to help plan new infrastructure in sectors such as energy and water.  These technologies can deliver significant benefits including increased efficiency and helping to address resource constraints - important for net zero and wider resilience. However, there is uncertainty in terms of how the relevant tech works, potential applications, associated risks, and the regulatory environment in which tools are developed and deployed. In its November deep dive, the Panel explored how to help ensure that the new tools used in planning infrastructure such as electricity grids, hydrogen pipes and major water and sewerage networks are trustworthy.  The Panel’s new briefing paper 👇 identifies the following themes: 1.    Address issues with existing regulation/regulatory coherence first - before introducing new AI regulation in this area. Be clear about the problems AI regulation will address in the infrastructure planning context and ensure it fits within wider policy framings. 2.    Use existing public consenting processes – to address issues around accountability, what to do if things go wrong and liabilities. 3.    Informal governance may also be needed - to help ensure new tools are aligned with societal expectations and emerging policy/regulation and to help develop an appropriate risk management culture. 4.    Think carefully about AI assurance – use existing AI assurance frameworks such as those for the public sector or co-create context specific assurance arrangements with stakeholder groups. 5.    Transparency is key – understand stakeholder transparency requirements in terms of what goes into a model (e.g. open data), the model itself (e.g. audits) and what comes out of a model (e.g. explainability). #infrastructure #planning #netzero Royal Town Planning Institute Ofgem Ofwat National Infrastructure Commission

Earlier this week the Renewables Grid Initiative and the Institute for European Energy and Climate Policy Foundation (IEECP) held a great expert workshop on stakeholder engagement in energy infrastructure. It was a good opportunity to share the findings from the Linear Infrastructure Planning Panel's work on how new tools and approaches can support decision making in this area. This briefing has more 👇 https://lnkd.in/dUeCvXAi It will be great if the GRI can sustain the network created during the workshop 😀