Beyond Brunel, the region’s infrastructure podcast, examines the intersection of infrastructure and social equality in the latest episode. Presenter Chris Ackland sits down with Alicia de Haldevang, Sustainability and Inequalities Consultant at Stantec and Peter Radford, Associate Director at Turner & Townsend Infrastructure, to explore the pressing question: can infrastructure help the South West end inequality? This episode is a thought-provoking discussion, touching upon various aspects of social inequality and the role infrastructure plays in addressing them.
Historic and location-based inequalities
There are many challenges that come with the greater number of remote rural and coastal communities in the South West, all of which can contribute to inequality and marginalisation. Historically, these issues have been enhanced by the region’s geography and lack of investment in infrastructure, as Peter Radford explained::
“We had ports all over the South West and now these things tend to be accumulated in certain locations like Bristol, Plymouth and Southampton and all of those smaller ports and connectivity through the railway network, those things have disappeared… it’s left a legacy of significant inequality and deprivation… and we’ve seen inward investment affected by that.”
Does infrastructure offer solutions?
While the guests were in agreement that infrastructure played a part in creating or enhancing social inequalities and marginalising some within our communities in the South West, they were also keen to discuss how infrastructure can be a powerful tool in combating these issues.
The podcast examines how we quantify the needs and benefits of infrastructure projects and the importance of communities working with decision-makers and planners while also feeling they have a personal investment in these projects. Alicia de Haldevang said:
“How do we change the spaces we design so they benefit more people and other groups in society, rather than keep churning out the same infrastructure that is actually just exacerbating the problem.”
Listen now
Tune in to Beyond Brunel to hear conversations about key infrastructure challenges for the region and hear from those coming up with innovative solutions.
All episodes of Beyond Brunel can be accessed on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
The podcast is supported by ICE South West and produced by Fresh Air Studios in Plymouth.