Experts dismiss NI to Scotland bridge idea

While Boris Johnson has repeatedly suggested a crossing over the Irish Sea, the Fraser of Allander Institute said the idea would not even feature in the top 10 infrastructure priorities.

The economic think tank, based at the University of Strathclyde, was dismissive of the proposal in a scathing blog post.

It comes just over a month after Downing Street confirmed a “range of officials” were looking at the idea - although Scottish Secretary Alister Jack suggested recently a tunnel could be a better option.

The think tank said: “Firstly, those hoping that building a bridge (tunnel or giant catapult even) will automatically be a catalyst for faster economic growth in both Scotland and Northern Ireland will be sorely disappointed.”

The economics experts said there was “little international evidence” to back up the idea of a causal positive link between infrastructure and growth.

While they said “well-designed and targeted investment that helps to unblock barriers to connectivity can have an impact on growth”, the post went on to add: “On a list of top 10 infrastructure priorities, this won’t be one of them.”

The post went on to note the proposed bridge or tunnel “won’t actually link up centres of economic activity” - saying travellers from Northern Ireland would “arrive in rural Dumfries and Galloway or Argyll, with a 90+ mile drive to the central belt (at least a further two and a half hours)”.

The think tank said: “So in short, it won’t deliver the economic boost some claim, it isn’t a priority, it would go to the wrong location, it wouldn’t be consistent with climate change objectives and the money could be better spent on other things. Apart from that, it’s a cracking idea.”