Renewable energy is Yorkshire’s priority for spending

TWO-THIRDS of people in Yorkshire see investment in renewable energy as being important, with support for airport investment among the lowest levels in the UK.

Polling for YouGov showed almost two-thirds of people in Yorkshire and the Humber think the Government should provide the biggest contribution to UK infrastructure investment.

Outside of the Government, private investors are who people in Yorkshire and the Humber think should provide the biggest contribution to investment, followed by sovereign wealth funds.

A quarter said they were unsure where the majority of UK infrastructure investment should come from.

As well as green energy, rail, roads, utilities and energy were cited as being key areas which needed to be developed in the region.

London saw the highest percentage of respondents regard renewable energy as very important, while in Scotland almost half described investment in utilities as very important.

The survey was conducted on behalf of GLIL Infrastructure, a £1.8bn investment fund backed by UK local government pension schemes.

GLIL chief operating officer Ted Frith said: “The UK has extensive infrastructure ambitions and now, even amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, there is still a strong case for infrastructure investment as the economy looks to get back on track and prepare for the future.

“The current lockdown means that international travel is all but impossible. However, the commitment to sustainability and the environment remains firm.

“Although the majority of people think the UK government should pay for infrastructure, the Government has other priorities right now, with money rightly being directed to healthcare and supporting businesses and people from across the economy.”