A range of tax incentives on capital investment in infrastructure projects could be the key to unlocking growth and creating thousands of new jobs, a KPMG poll claims.

The Big Four firm's latest annual tax competitiveness survey of tax professionals in 57 of the UK's largest businesses found that if the tax breaks were given the green light, it would be a boon for the wider economy.

Of the FTSE 100 companies interviewed, a third said they would increase their headcount by 7% on average if the government introduced tax reliefs on infrastructure investment - which equates to 4,000 new jobs.

Chris Morgan, KPMG's UK head of tax policy, said: 'When asked what single measure in the UK tax or regulatory regime the government should introduce over the next 12 months, tax relief on infrastructure or capital investments was the stand-out leader in terms of what was suggested.

'And our survey suggests that such a move would have a real and lasting impact on jobs and capital investment in the country; precisely what is needed to get the growth we so urgently need. Perhaps the Chancellor might consider a move in this direction in his Autumn Statement on December 5?'

If all the suggestions made by the senior tax executives were implemented, over 10,000 UK jobs could be created, while the capital expenditure of each organisation could increase by 12% and R&D spend by 17%, said KPMG.

When asked the areas on which the government should focus to drive growth, the respondents highlighted relief on infrastructure and capital investments, a further reduction in the rate of corporate tax and relief on other investments. They also championed the need for tax relief for capital investments and an increase in the rate of capital allowances for plant, machinery and infrastructure.

Morgan added: 'It's extremely difficult to quantify what the impact of these measures might be. However, if we applied the 7% headcount increase suggested by our FTSE100 respondents across the 2.1m people employed by this group as a whole, it would suggest 300,000 extra jobs.

'That precise number is likely to be a bit of a stretch but it does seem feasible that a major boost to capital investment on infrastructure could be a fillip to employment and thus be a driver of growth.'