BAM UK & Ireland responds to the Autumn Budget
BAM UK & Ireland responds to the Autumn Budget
BAM UK & Ireland’s Chief Operating Officer, John Wilkinson, shared his thoughts on the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget with Construction News, stressing the need for long-term certainty and sustained investment in infrastructure to support economic growth, job creation and the UK’s transition to a low-carbon future.
Infrastructure investment and energy delivery.
Commenting on the government’s approach to infrastructure, John Wilkinson said:
“We welcome the Autumn Budget’s commitment to easing pressures on households, but short-term relief must not overshadow the long-term investment Britain needs. Infrastructure is the backbone of economic resilience. Without sustained funding dedicated to improving infrastructure, the benefits of today’s measures will quickly fade. Crucially, energy bills will not fall long-term unless major energy projects can move forward with fewer barriers to delivery, supported by a more efficient planning system.
“Multi-year capital commitments give businesses the confidence to plan, invest and deliver. They create jobs, strengthen supply chains and drive regional growth. We urge the government to keep momentum behind major projects and ensure infrastructure remains a priority alongside consumer support.”
Tax rises and economic growth
Addressing the wider economic context, John Wilkinson highlighted the pressures facing both households and businesses:
“Businesses and households have faced unprecedented cost pressures and uncertainty in recent years. The construction industry, in particular, operates on tight margins while contributing £138 billion to the UK economy.
“With inflation high, unemployment rising, and economic growth sluggish, restoring confidence is more urgent than ever if we want to get Britain building again. That means simpler rules, clearer regulations, and fewer barriers to infrastructure projects that deliver jobs, energy, and growth, backed by incentives, not tax hikes.”
New tax on electric vehicles
BAM UK & Ireland also raised concerns about proposals to introduce new taxes on electric vehicles, particularly given the government’s net-zero ambitions:
“To deliver on our commitment to ‘building a sustainable tomorrow’, we’ve made our entire car fleet fully electric. Taxing EVs would be a major setback, discouraging businesses from investing in greener technologies. Across the UK, companies are already struggling with rising costs, sluggish growth, and inflation, another tax would only add to that burden. With the government aiming to end sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, now is the time for incentives, not penalties, to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, greener future.”
Skills, pensions and salary sacrifice
On workforce challenges, John Wilkinson emphasised the importance of supporting employers to attract and retain skilled people:
“The UK construction industry is facing a severe skills shortage, with over 140,000 vacancies unfilled. To deliver the infrastructure and energy projects that drive our economy, create jobs, and reduce energy bills, attracting talent is critical. The right benefits, from pensions to cycle-to-work schemes are essential to drawing the best people. The government must create an environment that allows businesses to offer packages that truly support the industry. Less red tape and lower costs are vital if we want a thriving construction sector and sustainable job growth.”
Cutting energy bills through long-term solutions
Welcoming measures to reduce household energy costs, BAM stressed the need for continued investment in clean energy infrastructure:
“We welcome the Autumn Budget’s commitment to easing pressures on households by cutting energy bills, providing much-needed support for families who have faced unprecedented cost-of-living pressures. However, to ensure that UK households can benefit from lower bills in the future, we must continue to invest in the clean-energy infrastructure that will enable the UK to secure energy independence, while removing planning delays and other barriers that are holding us back.”
Planning reform and local authority capacity
The Chancellor’s commitment to funding new planning officers was also seen as a positive step:
“We welcome the Chancellor’s announcement to support local authorities with hundreds of new planning officers across the country. The planning system remains one of the biggest blockers to infrastructure delivery in the UK. Today’s funding pledge, along with the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, is a step in the right direction toward reducing the time it takes for schemes to progress from planning to construction. However, more must be done to remove barriers to delivery.”
Homes, healthcare and community infrastructure
Finally, BAM UK & Ireland underlined the importance of taking a joined-up approach to development:
“The promise of streamlined planning and funding for new homes is positive, but homes do not exist in isolation. Thriving communities need schools, healthcare facilities, transport links and utilities. The investment to create 250 new neighbourhood health centres is a positive step in improving access to healthcare for those who need it. Building houses without the supporting infrastructure risks building homes without building and improving society. The Government must take a holistic approach: development and infrastructure together, not one at the expense of the other.
At BAM UK & Ireland, we stand ready to deliver the sustainable infrastructure Britain needs. With the right commitments, we can help turn today’s ambitions into tomorrow’s reality.”
