Parliamentarians warn that “systemic failures” in major infrastructure project delivery could “derail” the Government’s infrastructure ambitions.
In a new report launched by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Project Delivery (APPGPD), Building a Better Future: Inquiry into improving the delivery of national infrastructure projects, parliamentarians have called for radical action to prevent infrastructure projects being boiled in the pressure cooker of Government, Parliament, the media and shifting public expectations.
Delivering national infrastructure projects could provide a range of benefits, including improving living standards, boosting the economy, and creating highly skilled jobs across the UK. However, infrastructure projects are often viewed with scepticism due to delays, overspending, and short-term decision-making. The inquiry found that too many projects fall into the “valley of death” between policy and delivery, where ambition and investment are lost to bureaucracy, political churn and a lack of skills.
Drawing on evidence submitted by infrastructure organisations, project professionals, local leaders, architects, engineers, academics and other stakeholders, the report found that the current approach is not setting up infrastructure projects to be delivered on time, in budget or providing maximum value to communities or the country.
Chair of the APPG for Project Delivery, Henry Tufnell MP, said: “If we want to build the infrastructure that changes people’s lives for the better, we need to get serious about the changes required to make that happen. Too often, short-termism, a lack of project skills and an oversimplification of complex challenges lead to overspends, delays, and public disappointment. The country is overflowing with solutions and ideas, but unless we put a protective ring around our project plans and support them with a culture that develops and sustains the skills we need, our ambitions will be derailed.
“Ballooning budgets and growing timelines are a symptom of an approach to infrastructure delivery which is not working. With billions of pounds, both from the private sector and the taxpayer, to be invested in infrastructure over the next 10 years, the Government needs to get serious about urgently fixing the foundations of our shaky delivery system.
“There is currently a missing link between infrastructure ambition and delivery reality. This report brings together evidence from those at the heart of infrastructure project delivery to provide the Government with clear, implementable recommendations which could restore public confidence in our ability to build.
“Our current system is an obstacle to successful national infrastructure delivery. It’s time for the Government to clear the path to building a better future.”
The APPGPD is calling on ministers to radically reconsider the current approach to infrastructure delivery and implement the report’s recommendations to ensure infrastructure is delivered effectively. Recommendations include:
- The Government should use the 10-year infrastructure plan and NISTA, backed by long-term investment in projects, to embed delivery discipline as a permanent feature of government to end the so-called "valley of death" problem that exists between policy and delivery. This would require that targets are set early, resources and accountability are clarified, and major projects are protected from short-term politics and delivered consistently across Parliaments.
- The Government should expand training and mandate that all major projects secure independent delivery assurance before announcement, involve project specialists at the policymaking phase and ensure project delivery skills and expertise are built in from inception. This should be accompanied by Departmental benchmarks and clear targets for the proportion of officials who are delivery-focused professionals.
- Project management training should be mandatory for Senior Civil Servants and anyone managing a government project over £10 million. An accountable Chief Project Officer should be incorporated into Government departments to ensure all areas of Government understand how complex, long-term projects are delivered.
- The Government should consider establishing a National Infrastructure Delivery Skills Roadmap to lock in a consistent talent pipeline aligned with long-term national infrastructure priorities. While actions such as the ringfencing of funding for support training and apprenticeships in project management should be considered through routes such as the Growth and Skills Levy.
- When considering Private-Public Partnerships, the Government must ensure the public sector has the engineering, legal, financial and negotiation expertise needed to match the private sector to clarify risks, set clear project specifications, and drive value for the taxpayer.
- A major shift is needed in procurement to ensure early supplier involvement, the inclusion of project professionals throughout the process and lessons learned from other countries.
- Empower NISTA to oversee national infrastructure projects from policy to completion, ensuring consistency, accountability and effective delivery across Government.
- The Government should lead in communicating the benefits and public value of national infrastructure projects, requiring major projects to set clear Public Value Statements.
