Purposeful Finance Commission (PFC)

Across the UK, local authorities face mounting barriers to infrastructure development, from planning delays and regulatory complexity to limited access to private capital. These constraints have led to cancelled housing projects, stalled reservoir construction, and underinvestment in green energy. The Purposeful Finance Commission (PFC) was established to tackle these issues head-on, bringing together institutional investors, combined authorities, and regeneration experts to identify and overcome the systemic obstacles to purposeful investment.

Our Approach

Strategic Framing and Launch

We developed the PFC’s mission and scope, coordinated its media launch, and facilitated roundtables across the UK to gather insights from local leaders and investors.

Social Value Index and ESG Integration

In partnership with PIC and Wates Group, we designed tools to quantify social value and align investment with community outcomes, reinforcing the Commission’s commitment to purposeful finance.

Regulatory Deep Dive

In 2025, we launched a second phase of work focused on regulatory barriers. Using case studies in housing, reservoirs, and green energy, we mapped the regulatory web, analysed costs and delays, and proposed tangible reforms to streamline development.

Evidence-Based Research

We produced flagship reports such as Breaking the Cycle: Unlocking Infrastructure Investment, which revealed a collapse in infrastructure investment growth and pinpointed regulatory bottlenecks like the Building Safety Act.

Policy Development and Advocacy

WPI crafted policy recommendations and coordinated high-level engagement with MHCLG, the National Infrastructure Commission, and Parliamentarians. We also developed the concept of the Pipeline Fund, a public-private initiative to deploy expert planners into overstretched local authorities.

Outcomes and Impact

  • Political Engagement: Secured meetings with senior figures at MHCLG, leading backbenchers, and industry regulators.

  • Media Coverage: Achieved national and sectoral media visibility for the Commission’s work and recommendations.

  • Policy Influence: Contributed to the Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy.

  • Practical Tools: Delivered the Investment Heatmap and Social Value Index to guide investment decisions and policy reform.

  • Website and Communications: Supported the redesign of the PFC’s website and public-facing materials to reflect its evolving mission and showcase its work.