Most major infrastructure and construction projects require intervention to stay on track, NISTA report finds

The majority (72%) of major infrastructure and construction projects in the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) in 2025/26 faced significant or major risks to delivery, according to a new annual report⁽¹⁾ from the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA).

Of the 68 infrastructure and construction projects in the GMPP in 2025/26, 39 were rated amber (as of March 2026), where successful delivery remains feasible if issues are addressed promptly to avoid a cost or schedule overrun.

A further 10 projects were rated red where successful delivery appears to be unachievable due to major issues with project definition, schedule, budget, quality and/or benefits delivery.

Across all categories in the GMPP, 29 of 189 projects (15%) were rated green, 109 amber (58%) and 34 red (18%). The remining 17 projects were exempt from ratings.

‘Projects in the GMPP are notoriously complex and challenging to deliver,’ said Karl Horton, data services director at BCIS. ‘The high proportion of amber and red ratings reflects that reality rather than any lack of commitment from NISTA or government departments.

‘This is particularly true for infrastructure and construction projects. Our latest infrastructure forecast is that civil engineering costs will rise by 15% over the next five years, while tender prices for civil engineering work are expected to increase by 19% over the same period.

‘The current cost environment, compounded by heightened tensions between the US and Iran and the resulting pressure on oil prices, is creating significant challenges even for relatively routine projects. Add to that sector-specific issues, such as constrained MEP capacity and planning-related delays, and delivering schemes on the scale of HS2, the Lower Thames Crossing or Sizewell C becomes exponentially more difficult.

‘The reset of the GMPP and the decision to concentrate attention on a smaller number of the country’s largest projects should help provide greater clarity and focus. Government departments and NISTA are under significant pressure to ensure the 10-year infrastructure strategy delivers on its promises to the economy. Getting these projects right is absolutely imperative if they are to unlock the growth and wider benefits the UK urgently needs in an increasingly unpredictable world.’

In 2025/26, 42 projects left the GMPP with 26 reporting delivery against their objectives. Projects typically leave the GMPP when successfully delivered or they no longer require NISTA support.

In the last year, eight infrastructure and construction projects left the GMPP, two of which were due to successful deliveries. The remaining six left due to being stopped or brought to an early closure, or because the project no longer met GMPP criteria.

Since April 2026, the number of projects in the GMPP has been reduced to 81 to enable more targeted support for the most nationally significant and highest‑impact UK projects and programmes.

In July, the government also confirmed changes to scrap mandatory pre-application consultation requirements for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), under the Planning and Infrastructure Act⁽²⁾. The government expects the reforms to cut up to 12 months from the planning process and potentially save the wider industry £1 billion in this Parliament.

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^{(1) NISTA Major Projects Annual Report 2025/26  - here}

^{(2) GOV.UK – Fastest infrastructure building in a generation as planning rules overhauled  - here}