EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, said that an Infrastructure Authority would be aimed at ending decades of infrastructure being used as a political football.

The call comes amid growing concerns over the quality of Britain’s roads and energy and rail networks, as well as the ongoing spat over the future of London’s airports.

Earlier this month five northern cities called for a £15bn programme of infrastructure investment to boost regional development. 

Manufacturers identified poor infrastructure as their fourth most pressing problem.

EEF’s business environment policy adviser, Chris Richards, said: “Political prevarication and policy reversals have left Britain in the slow lane in developing its infrastructure for decades.

“The neglect of our roads, the indecision on expanding airport capacity and, the agonising over high speed rail routes connecting our major cities have only served to exacerbate the feeling that Britain’s infrastructure is not geared up to support growth.

“We now have the opportunity to put in place a new independent system that will aid long-term planning supporting more of a consensus based approach in identifying future needs. All political parties need to commit to this in their forthcoming manifestos.”

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