£650bn construction pipeline Revealed

By Catherine Kennedy

The government has set out how £650bn of private and public investment will be implemented in infrastructure projects across the country over the next decade in its new National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline.

The investment will be shared across 528 projects, programmes and other investments, with up to £31bn of procurement planned over the next year.

Currently there is around £400bn of planned investment in the pipeline, including over £200bn to be invested by 2024/25.

This will support 425,000 jobs annually on average between 2021/22 and 2024/25.

Following the publication of the National Infrastructure Strategy in November 2020, this National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline has been described as the most ambitious to date. It sets out future planned procurements and levels of investment alongside the workforce requirement to deliver these plans.

The procurements in the pipeline include a broad range of works across infrastructure and construction such as construction work including building, design & build and civil engineering contracts; repair and maintenance services; architectural, construction, engineering and inspections services; and consultancy services.

In the planned procurements for the next year, transport has been allocated the most funding and is set to benefit from a £23.6bn investment.

Pipeline procurements in 2021/22 by sector

Infrastructure and Projects Authority chief executive Nick Smallwood emphasised the importance of the pipeline.

“Well planned and delivered projects have never been more important to the UK in driving our economy’s recovery from the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic,” he said.

“In setting out planned procurements, investments, and projections of the workforce required to deliver planned investment, this pipeline will support industry in making strategic and informed decisions to their long-term business and project planning.”

The IPA’s flagship change programme, Transforming Infrastructure Performance: Roadmap to 2030, was published alongside the pipeline.

Smallwood said that it “brings together our diverse infrastructure expertise to lead real system change across government and industry, delivering on our mandate for the people of the UK”.

He added: “It sets out a bold vision for the future of our infrastructure by recognising how significantly and rapidly the world is changing and uses our position at the centre of government to take a longer term and portfolio view.

“Collectively, we are working across government to create a step change in project delivery, setting high standards for success and supporting capability development across the construction sector.”

Source: New Civil Engineer