Reports that the Scottish Government is considering a new pipeline of public-private partnerships (PPPs) provide a welcome indication of growing interest in using private investment to deliver essential public infrastructure.
According to the Scottish Daily Express, ministers are exploring opportunities to revive private financing models for infrastructure projects.
The proposals build on the Scottish Government's published Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline, which identifies the potential for using the Mutual Investment Model (MIM) to fund new facilities, particularly in healthcare.
An initial programme of 12 community healthcare schemes, with a potential capital value exceeding £500 million, is being considered, subject to business cases and value-for-money assessments.
The Scottish Futures Trust is working with the market to develop potential financing and delivery arrangements, drawing on experience from Scotland, Wales and elsewhere.
For AIIP, the developments are an encouraging sign that governments across the UK are increasingly recognising the role that modern PPPs can play in addressing infrastructure investment challenges.
Modern partnerships can bring together long-term private capital, construction expertise and whole-life maintenance, helping deliver projects efficiently while transferring appropriate risks to the private sector.
The priority now should be to develop a clear, credible pipeline of investable projects, supported by transparent procurement, robust value-for-money assessments and contracts that reflect lessons from previous PPP programmes.
AIIP and its members stand ready to work with the Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust to explore how private investment can help deliver the infrastructure Scotland needs.