NIC boss Heath to leave as Treasury creates new role

The National Infrastructure Commission’s Chief Executive James Heath is stepping down in March after nearly five years in post.

Meanwhile, the Treasury is recruiting for a Director General for the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), which is taking over from the NIC.

NISTA will combine the functions of the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA).

The new body will aim to “bridge the gap between what we build and how we build it”, says the Government. To do so, it will have “a strong mandate” and “be subject to direct oversight from ministers at the centre of government”. To this end it now emerges that NISTA will sit directly within the Treasury. Alongside a salary of £200,000, comes a £57,940 pension contribution for the new Director General of NISTA.

NISTA is due to be operational by spring 2025. Current NIC Chair Sir John Armitt has had his term extended to cover the transition period to “provide the stability and expertise needed to support the Government in developing its ten-year infrastructure strategy”.

The Government says NISTA will bring oversight of strategy and delivery under one roof, supporting the development and implementation of the infrastructure strategy in conjunction with industry, while driving more effective delivery of infrastructure across the country.

Armitt said the NIC’s reports and the second National Infrastructure Assessment would inform the Government in producing its ten-year infrastructure strategy. After leaving the Commission, James Heath will take up a new role at Flint Global.