What is infrastructure?

There are many definitions of infrastructure, what it encompasses and how to understand its economic, environmental and social benefits. But repeated research shows clear links between the adequacy of infrastructure provision and:

  • well-being
  • deprivation and
  • climate change management.

This section provides a general introduction to infrastructure and how it is defined by a variety of international bodies. It then sets out the different planning regimes for infrastructure delivery in the UK, including the policy context that still currently derives from the EU.

This section is maintained by Janice Morphet, Visiting Professor, Bartlett School of Planning UCL.