Cement - a critical UK resource
Antony Oliver
11 September 2025
Cement is the backbone of UK infrastructure – but do we actually have the cement we need?
In the latest episode of
The Infrastructure Podcast, I speak with
Diana Casey, Executive Director for Cement, Energy & Climate at the
Mineral Products Association — the voice of UK cement producers.
Listen in here
- or find it wherever you get your podcasts — search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple or Google.
The reality is that without cement, the UK’s roads, railways, schools, hospitals, bridges, and homes would quite literally crumble. Yet as the Labour government drives forward with 1.5 million homes in 5 years and a £725bn infrastructure pipeline, there’s a pressing question…
In this episode I chat to Diana Casey as we explore:
🔹 Why domestic manufacturing is becoming uncompetitive
🔹 The risks of relying on imports in a volatile global market
🔹 What a watertight Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism could deliver
🔹 How carbon capture and a clearer industrial strategy can secure supply
🔹 Why this is as much about jobs, security and resilience as it is about decarbonisation
This is a conversation about the material that quietly underpins every major infrastructure ambition — and what’s at stake if we get it wrong.
HS2 – what went wrong? The Infrastructure Podcast is back after the summer break — and we’re starting with a big one as I speak to author Sally Gimson about her new book Off the Rail – the inside story of HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd . Listen in here or find it wherever you get your podcasts — search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple or Google. HS2 has been called many things: for some it's infrastructure’s poster child for delay and cost overrun; to others it's a truly game-changing investment to transform UK connectivity, Certainly few projects in British history have generated such fierce debate — or exposed so much about our ability (or inability) to deliver major infrastructure. From the spiralling costs and shifting political priorities to the sheer engineering complexity, HS2 has been a lightning rod for wider questions - all of which I tackle with Sally: · Was it doomed from day one? · Was it a bold vision stifled by politics? · Is the UK capable of delivering such bold and ambitious projects? Sally has spent years unpicking the web of decisions, personalities, and compromises that shaped the project — and what her excellent new book uncovers says as much about our national approach to infrastructure as it does about a single railway. Have a listen and let me know what you think!
Infrastructure project commissioning is not testing. And according to Paul Turner , my guest on this week’s episode, failure to grasp this concept too often sees major projects treat commissioning as a last-minute hurdle to clear before opening day rather than the fundamental process of preparing an asset from day one to operate as intended. Listen in here - or find it wherever you get your podcasts — search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple or Google. Paul is Chief Executive of the Institute of Commissioning & Assurance (ICxA). He explains that, in reality, commissioning is the vital process required at the start of a project - not the end. And when projects go wrong, the results can be disastrous – from delayed openings and cost overruns to failures that undermine public trust – and usually linked directoy to poor commissioning at the start. When we spoke last year in episode 82, Paul had just launched what was then the Industrial Commissioning Association. In just twelve months, the organisation has: ✅ Grown to over 4,300 members across 27 local chapters ✅ Formed a Board of Directors and Advisory Council ✅ Rebranded as ICxA to reflect its broader global mission ✅ Launched two new global standards – one on commissioning, one on outcome assurance ✅ Introduced a certification framework and career pathway for the next generation of project leaders We dig into what these developments mean for infrastructure and industrial projects worldwide, why commissioning needs to be treated with the same seriousness as design and construction, and how ICxA’s standards can help transform outcomes across the sector. Enjoy the episode.
Nuclear waste: never out of mind? Well in the latest episode of The Infrastructure Podcast we dig into nuclear waste management, one of the most complex, long-term, and often misunderstood challenges in the UK’s energy future. And I’m joined by the man who knows - Mike Pigott , Director of Waste Operations and Sites at Nuclear Waste Services is a leader with decades of experience and a deep operational, regulatory and international experience across the full lifecycle of the nuclear industry. 👉 Listen in here - or find it wherever you get your podcasts — search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple or Google. Because nuclear power is making a comeback as a key pillar of the UK’s low-carbon energy strategy — backed by tens of billions in new public investment. The question remains: what do we do with the waste it leaves behind? At the centre of this national challenge is Nuclear Waste Services, tasked with safely managing everything from today’s operational low-level waste to the deeply complex legacy materials from decades of civil and defence-related activity. From managing the UK’s Low Level Waste Repository, where more than 750,000 cubic metres of radioactive material has already been safely disposed of, to planning the UK’s future approach to long-term disposal and public engagement, Mike offers an expert perspective on the infrastructure, innovation, and trust needed to get it right. So if you want to understand where the UK really stands on managing its nuclear legacy — and what comes next — this episode is a must-listen.
The Independent Water Commission, chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe, as left the water sector at a critical crossroads – and left no one in the sector smelling of roses. As Sir Jon puts it: “This sector requires fundamental reform on all sides.” So in the latest episode of The Infrastructure Podcast , I speak to Blair Mitchell , Managing Director for Water at WSP in the UK & Ireland – a Scot with three decades working across all corners of the sector – and 20 years in the Scottish water sector - to dive headfirst into the report’s findings and ask what can be learnt and what needs to change. 👉 Listen in here - or find it wherever you get your podcasts — search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple or Google. After years of public anger over sewage pollution, rising bills, and service failures, Sir Jon’s long-awaited report has produced 464 pages and 88 recommendations that could fundamentally reshape how water is regulated, governed and delivered in England and Wales. Highlights include: 🔹 A new, integrated regulator to replace Ofwat 🔹 Regional water planning authorities 🔹 Compulsory metering 🔹 Tougher rules on company ownership and resilience 🔹 A new “public benefit” duty at the heart of water company licences At the same time, Ofwat ’s PR24 price review sets a 21% investment uplift over AMP8 – while demanding affordability, efficiency, and trust from a sector in crisis. This is a pivotal moment for the future of UK water – and this episode cuts through the noise to explore what real reform could (and should) look like.
With the UK’s ambitious £725bn 10-year infrastructure strategy and project delivery pipeline now in motion, private investment has never been more critical to turning bold public plans into real-world impact. But where is the smart money going in infrastructure? In the latest episode of The Infrastructure Podcast , I speak to Mark Gilligan , Head of AXA Investment Managers Alts’ €4bn and growing infrastructure equity platform, to explore where, why and how institutional capital is being deployed — and what that tells us about the future of infrastructure delivery across Europe and the UK. 👉 Listen in here - or find it wherever you get your podcasts — search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple or Google. From energy storage and digital networks to green locomotives and district heating, AXA’s investments offer a window into the evolving priorities of infrastructure investors: decarbonisation, electrification, and digitalisation. 🔋 Just last month, AXA IM Alts backed a major battery project in Scotland and a pan-European solar platform. 🚄 And yes — they own Europe’s only green freight train fleet. ➡️ If you're involved in infrastructure planning, delivery or financing, this is a must-listen. But I would say that, wouldn’t I…!
After years of underinvestment and piecemeal planning, the UK government has finally unveiled what could be the most comprehensive infrastructure strategy in a generation — a 10-year plan backed by at least £725 billion of public investment. 📈 But what does it actually mean in practice? In this episode, I’m joined by James Corrigan , Managing Director for Infrastructure at Turner & Townsend , to unpack the ambition behind this milestone strategy — and the hard realities of turning it into delivery on the ground. 👉 Listen in here - or find it wherever you get your podcasts — search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple or Google. 🎙️ We discuss: - How this new approach could reshape UK infrastructure planning and delivery - The challenges of aligning long-term policy with political cycles - The role of digital, climate resilience, and regional regeneration - What this all means for investors, local authorities and communities alike It’s a timely and vital conversation for anyone involved in the built environment.
How real is the UK’s nuclear “golden age”? Well with the Sizewell C sitting at its core I thought it best to find out what was happening by chatting to Julia Pyke FEI, HonFNucl , Managing Director of the project on The Infrastructure Podcast . 👉 Listen in here - or find it wherever you get your podcasts — search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple or Google. The episode explores what the government’s latest landmark £14.2 billion investment in the project really means — for clean energy, investor confidence, UK supply chains, and the communities that will host this next-generation infrastructure – when open in the mid-2030s it will power six million homes for over 60 years, become the UK’s first fully British-owned nuclear power station in decades. But turning that ambition into reality is a massive challenge. Our discussion covers a lot of ground including: ➡️ Is the project still on track for Final Investment Decision in 2025? ➡️ How public funding is unlocking long-term investor confidence ➡️ What’s being done to learn lessons from Hinkley Point C ➡️ The critical role of community engagement ➡️ And why strengthening the UK’s nuclear supply chain is now essential 🎧 It’s a wide-ranging and fascinating conversation with someone right at the centre of one of the UK’s most important new energy projects. Enjoy!
“Projects don’t go wrong — they start wrong.” That’s one of the stark messages from James Stewart , author of the Stewart Review into the troubled HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd project and my guest on this week’s episode of The Infrastructure Podcast . 👉 Listen here - or find it wherever you get your podcasts — search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple or Google. As we know, HS2 was meant to be the crown jewel of UK infrastructure — boosting connectivity, unlocking capacity, and driving long-term growth. Instead, it's become a cautionary tale of runaway costs, shrinking scope, and delayed delivery. In this candid conversation, James (- who now chairs Agilia Infrastructure Partners but has spent a career helping to bring public and private infrastructure projects over the line) pulls no punches as he outlines: · Was HS2 simply too big to succeed? · Why the project lacked a protective “buffer” from political interference · The impact of the UK’s “culture of gold-plating” in design · And why our major project supply chain is no longer fit for purpose His verdict is clear: HS2 didn’t just fall apart — it was flawed from the start. But perhaps more importantly, in his lessons learnt report, James sets out how we can stop making the same mistakes in future infrastructure projects. It’s a must-listen for anyone who cares about how the UK delivers its biggest ambitions.
The United States' infrastructure has scored a grade C – that’s “mediocre, requires attention”. Every four years, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) releases a document that quietly shapes the nation’s future — the Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. It’s been called “the most important report you’ve probably never heard of.” In the latest episode of @The Infrastructure Podcast, I’m joined by @Tom Smith ASCE, Executive Director of ASCE, to unpack what that grade really means — why it matters to every American and how the $3.7 trillion funding gap must be filled over the next 10 years. 👉 Listen here or find it wherever you get your podcasts — search “The Infrastructure Podcast” on Spotify, Apple or Google. The interview builds on a presentation made by Tom at the recent Bentley Systems Transforming Infrastructure Performance Summit in New York ( https://lnkd.in/e94bKW96 ). From bridges and broadband to potholes and power grids, this latest conversation dives into: 🔎 Where progress is being made – why 8 of 18 categories saw improvement ⚠️ Where we’re still falling behind - why energy and rail were downgraded 💰 What it’ll take to turn short-term fixes into long-term solutions 🏘️ How infrastructure decisions directly affect the daily lives of millions Getting the infrastructure investment right is about more than roads and pipes — it’s about the resilience of our communities, the strength of our economy, and the choices we make to shape the future. Listen in to find out why now is the time to move from crisis response to proactive planning.
A new nuclear "golden age"? Well it’s certainly an exciting time in the nuclear energy sector right now as the UK government commits £2.5bn to Small Modular Reactors, £14.2bn to Sizewell C , and £2.5bn to fusion R&D – the biggest nuclear investment in a generation. But what does this bold vision really mean? Can we build this new nuclear future on time, on budget, and with the skills we need? In this week's episode of The Infrastructure Podcast , I’m joined by Tim Stone CBE , independent non-executive director of Great British Nuclear and former Chair of the Nuclear Industry Association to unpack the opportunity, challenge – and reality – of the UK’s nuclear renaissance. Listen here - or find it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, et al, of course! I certainly loved this conversation with Tim – his return to the podcast of course (see also episode 53!) as we chewed over a huge number of issues including: ➡️ is the really a new "golden age” of nuclear? ➡️ What exactly are SMRs – and why do they matter? ➡️ How do they compare to mega-projects like Sizewell C or Hinkley Point C? ➡️ Are we ready to deliver – with the right sites, skills, and supply chains? ➡️ Can Britain really lead the global race on next-gen nuclear? Given the scale of the government’s nuclear ambition, this is a must-listen for anyone interested in clean energy, industrial revival, or how infrastructure policy turns into national progress.