Setting up the infrastructure to give Wales the best opportunity for future economic success is one of the aims of a new body formed to look at long-term strategy.

Economy and Transport Secretary Ken Skates has created the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales, to advise the Welsh Government on the economic and environmental infrastructure needs of Wales over five to 30 years.

Backed by the various political parties in the Senedd, it is designed to allow the group to sit outside the usual electoral cycle and focus on longer-term goals.

The 12-strong commission has members across Wales – with John Lloyd Jones, who has been appointed chairman, and former Daily Post editor Rob Irvine among those providing a voice for North Wales.

The A55 at Penmaenmawr, Pen Y Clip tunnels

Mr Irvine spoke to Business Post about the commission’s aims.

He said: “It is about making sure Wales is given the best opportunity to develop its economy and to protect its environment.

The bigger picture

"It is thinking about the bigger picture – what sort of things does Wales need to prepare for future economic success.

“There is always infrastructure work going on but it is about the longer-term vision.”

For people in North Wales, infrastructure generally means the A55 and the other key A-roads, as well as the rail network.

Mr Irvine said: “The most obvious infrastructure is transport, the ability to move people, information or goods around. Transport is essential to any decent infrastructure operation.

Rob Irvine, member of the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales

“Are the current transport networks fit for service?

“Any plan has to think about roads and rail and a properly joined-up network – are buses meeting trains at the right time?

“We have to make sure there is a connectedness to what we are trying to achieve.

“The commission has to consider the business needs of the future, thinking about what a business needs.”

He added: “The topography is not going to change, the mountains are not going anywhere, but we need to look if we can improve roads, make connections faster, and create a fully networked community.

A470 between Betws-y-Coed and Blaenau Ffestiniog
A470 between Betws-y-Coed and Blaenau Ffestiniog

"If you are fully networked you may not have to move a muscle. With business there are an awful lot of journeys taking people to people that are unnecessary.

“There are things we can come back and say ‘here is what we need to do quickly, the quick wins’. There are ways of making journeys quicker by looking at current roads and making small changes and looking at how public transport links together.

“Then there’s the long-term, hard stuff but we need to start work on this now. In the long term we don’t know where technology will take us. For example we need a network ready for the growth in electric cars – that needs attention.”

Mr Irvine, who was also editor-in-chief at the Manchester Evening News, added: “In Manchester they have worked very hard on creating a network that can move people around without having to get into a car. Can we do business that way better in Wales?

“It is not just about moving around Wales, it is about other things like our ports, like Holyhead which is incredibly important. We have to think about north-south connections and mindful of east to west.”

The members of the commission come with a range of skills and experiences and from across the country.

Not just a story about South Wales

“This has to be for the whole of Wales. That is very important,” said Mr Irvine, who lives in Conwy.

“We are all very clear that the success of this is down to our ability to bring opportunity to every part of Wales. We are mindful that this is not just a story about Heads of the Valleys and South Wales.”

One other major theme for the commission will be environmental infrastructure, with flooding expected to become an increasing problem.

Gwydir Castle gardens were flooded following Storm Bronagh
Gwydir Castle gardens were flooded following Storm Bronagh

Mr Irvine said: “The environment is also important – protecting homes and businesses at a time when all the signs are that we will be at greater risk of flooding in the years to come.

“There are several thousand homes and businesses at risk of flooding now and that risk is going up on an annual basis.

“We can measure the potential cost of flooding and the cost of measures to protect them to work out the cost benefit.”

Need to involve lots of people

While the group of 12 all bring their own talents, engaging with people is key to making sure they are speaking for the wider community.

“This will only work if we involve lots of people, especially young people, because in 30 years time it is the kids in school that will be feeling the effects of this,” said Mr Irvine.

“We also need to speak to different sectors, experts in their field and take these ideas forward.

“We all have different skills and experience and can work as a team but we can also draw on our many contacts. The more we can involve people the better – it makes it more real, gives people a stake.”

Although the whole aim of the group is to improve Wales’ future, he believes North Wales should already be selling itself as a “great place to do business”.

He said: “It has a pretty good road network, it is not far from large cities, it’s a beautiful place to live and it’s relatively cheap.

"Add fantastic online connectivity and access to a brilliant port, there is so much businesses can do here without going to a city where they would battle traffic and pay £20 a day to park.

“The fundamental is connectivity. Just because you live in rural Caernarfonshire should not stop you being able to build a successful business, that is really important.

“Success for me would be as many people as possible across the whole of Wales given the opportunity to take part in a successful economy which is very much low-carbon or carbon neutral.

"We have to be bold.”