This week is a big one for examining the rights and wrongs of Welsh infrastructure. So, it is worth looking at the facts behind the big schemes that demand such a major investment, but that could potentially deliver such exciting rewards for all the people of Wales – not just the developers behind the ideas.

Let’s take the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon.

The piece in this week’s newsletter sets out all the facts and it is all worth reading – not just our highlights. It is also worth exploring the links within the story and towards the end. From a construction perspective, the scheme will generate jobs and be a landmark project for Wales. But in terms of energy and the Welsh economy the Swansea Tidal Lagoon is a classic ‘enabling’ work – something that anyone working in the built environment will understand.

If it succeeds then it will pave the way for more projects, but of a larger scale and these other lagoon schemes will go a long way to improve the energy supply of Wales. But it is the construction sector that will allow this to happen. Because our industry can open doors to new ideas, because it can bind communities together and because it can build a legacy of better health, education and living standards it deserves the best representation at Government and amongst other competing economic sectors. We cannot afford to take construction for granted because it has far too much to offer the country. Likewise, we must make sure what we build is built right; designed right, procured efficiently and delivered collaboratively with a constant focus on values and outcomes.