The London Infrastructure Framework (LIF), published in March, represents an ambitious blueprint for the capital’s economic infrastructure.[1] Developed jointly by the Mayor of London and London Councils, the LIF coverers transport, energy, water, digital connectivity and waste, and it sets out a prioritised pipeline of schemes designed to unlock 880,000 new homes, accelerate London’s transition to net zero, and future-proof the city’s economy by 2050.
What’s in the Pipeline?
The LIF offers a pan-London view to move a range of significant schemes from planning to delivery. From the Bakerloo Line Extension and Crossrail 2, to strategic heat networks, major grid upgrades in West and North London, and a city-wide digital infrastructure overhaul, the LIF identifies the schemes deemed to be ‘critical infrastructure priorities’,[2] and sequences them against London’s growth priorities. It also sets out nine specific actions for the Mayor’s office and Local Authorities, with a clear focus on the Spending Review 2027 as the critical moment to secure national backing and to provide this long-term view with long-term funding certainty.
From Framework to Delivery
Despite the framework being comprehensive and in line with the 10-year National Infrastructure Strategy and UK Infrastructure Pipeline, frameworks do not deliver themselves. The LIF explicitly acknowledges the ‘cross-sector barriers to progress’[3] that will require a new kind of partnership between City Hall, National Government, regulators, utilities, developers and private investors.
Every scheme on the Priority List will need to navigate a complex web of planning consents, regulatory approvals, funding negotiations and political relationships. The window between now and the Spending Review 2027 is, in the lifetime of major projects, relatively short. The competition to be labelled a ‘relevant project’[4] and thus receive adequate government attention and capital is likely to be intense.
One of the most important aspects of the LIF is the clarity it provides on decision making, the distribution of authority and how the interconnected private-public projects will aim to begin delivering. The proposition to create ‘clearer, integrated propositions that support sequencing, appraisal and long‑term investment planning’ is crucial for businesses operating in this space. Understanding those relationships, and being well-positioned within them, will be the difference between being a flagship infrastructure scheme and interpolating all the benefits that go along with that, or being forced to watch from the sidelines.
How to Position Your Organisation Inside London’s Infrastructure Agenda
At Brevia, we work at the intersection of policy, politics and public affairs. We help organisations navigate exactly these kinds of complex, multi-stakeholder environments, building the government relationships, shaping the public narrative, and ensuring our clients are heard at the moments that matter most.
Discover how Brevia can help you and your organisation by contacting the Brevia Team on 020 7091 1650 or contact@brevia.co.uk
BREVIA CONSULTING PROVIDES STRAIGHTFORWARD POLITICAL ADVICE AND SUPPORT TO BUSINESSES AND ORGANISATIONS
[1] Mayor of London, London Infrastructure Framework, March 2026, link
[2] ibid
[3] ibid
[4] ibid
