UK’s Infrastructure Strategy: NISTA key to expanding construction pipeline

Kelly Boorman, National Head of Construction at RSM UK, reacts to UK Infrastructure: A 10-year strategy: “Delays to planning reform, labour shortages and uncertainty over pipelines have been key challenges for the construction industry, with mandatory housing targets adding another layer of pressure. The government’s pledge to catalyse investment in construction skills and technology to increase productivity is a step in the right direction, as on-site labour productivity and workforce deficits have been a major barrier to achieving housing targets, as outlined in RSM’s Real Estate 360 survey.

“The Infrastructure Pipeline will give businesses more visibility on future projects in the next 10 years, enabling them to plan, forecast, and identify the right people with the right skillsets to deliver. Given the pipeline has been designed based on supply chain input, this should stop previous tensions from continuing and foster much-needed collaboration in the industry. The added focus on investment in new technologies will also attract new people with different skillsets to the industry, creating new job opportunities and bringing new ways of thinking towards building.”

She added: “However, the strategy reveals the government is taking a spatial approach to planning infrastructure, which aside from housing, will present new opportunities for construction businesses across education, health and transport. Previously, the industry has struggled with forecasting and committing to projects due to mobilisation delays, so the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), will play a key role in reforming public procurement, assessing viability of contracts, and maximising growth opportunities. It’s therefore critical that NISTA deploys the right expertise, removes barriers and streamlines processes to ensure the successful delivery of major contracts.”