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• The UK Infrastructure Bank Bill is the final step in setting up the UK Infrastructure Bank as an operationally independent institution

• The Bill will remove legal obstacles so the Bank can lend directly to local authorities and the Northern Ireland Executive for infrastructure projects

• The Bank, launched in June 2021, is a key part of the Government鈥檚 National Infrastructure Strategy and is already investing in infrastructure across the UK

The UK Infrastructure Bank was launched in interim form at its headquarters in Leeds in June last year. It was tasked with accelerating investment into ambitious infrastructure projects, cutting emissions and levelling up across the UK.

This Bill will complete the Bank鈥檚 set up as an operationally independent institution and give it the power to lend directly to local authorities and the Northern Ireland Executive. It will also support the Bank鈥檚 operational independence by setting out clear accountability for how it is to be run.

Since its launch, the Bank has completed five deals, including financing the UK鈥檚 largest solar farm in south Wales, investing 拢100 million to provide high-capacity broadband to around 500,000 properties in hard-to-reach UK premises and a further 拢50 million to improve digital connectivity for rural homes and businesses across Northern Ireland.

John Glen, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said:

Since its launch nearly a year ago, the Bank has already invested in important projects that will support people, businesses and communities across the UK.

This Bill sets out the Bank鈥檚 long-term purpose as an enduring institution to continue to do this, helping tackle climate change and support levelling up.

The CEO of the UK Infrastructure Bank, John Flint, said:

We welcome the introduction of the UK Infrastructure Bank Bill, which underlines the government鈥檚 commitment to our mission.

As the government moves to place the Bank on a statutory footing, we will now focus on the recruitment of people who are excited by our purpose, and who will ensure that the Bank delivers on its mandate.

The Bank is an essential part of the Government鈥檚 National Infrastructure Strategy and will have 拢22 billion of financial capacity to invest in infrastructure to help tackle climate change and to support regional and local economic growth across the UK.

The UK Infrastructure Bank will have an initial 拢12 billion of capital to deploy and will be able to issue 拢10 billion of government guarantees, helping to unlock more than 拢40 billion of overall investment.

Working in partnership with local government and the private sector, the Bank will harness investment tailored to the needs of specific infrastructure projects, offering a range of financing tools including debt, equity, and guarantees.

Measures in the Bill will:

• Complete the Bank鈥檚 set up as an operationally independent institution, able to deliver on its objectives effectively and with a clear long-term policy mandate. By enshrining the Bank鈥檚 objectives and activities in legislation, the Bill will provide clarity for the Bank and the market as to the Bank鈥檚 long-term purpose as an enduring institution.

• The Bill will also support the Bank鈥檚 operational independence by setting out clear accountability for how it is to be run, including reporting and board requirements.

• Finally, the Bill will give the Bank the power to lend directly to local authorities and the Northern Ireland Executive鈥痺hich is one of the Bank鈥檚 key activities.

Further information

The UK Infrastructure Bank has already completed five deals:

• investing 拢100 million to provide high-capacity broadband to around 500,000 properties in hard-to-reach UK premises

• Financing the UK鈥檚 largest operational solar farm at Llanwern in south Wales and catalysing a 拢500m fund which could double the amount of subsidy-free solar power in the UK with Next Energy

• investing 拢107 million in the South Bank Quay development at Teesworks in Teesside (North-East England) supporting around 800 direct jobs

• partnering with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to invest 拢10 million in phase 1 of the new Sprint Bus Route in Birmingham along the heavily congested A45 corridor

• investing 拢50 million as a co-lender to the broadband provider Fibrus, which is delivering high-capacity broadband to rural homes and businesses across Northern Ireland