Government Slashes Major Projects Portfolio by Two-Thirds to 81 Schemes
The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (Nista) has significantly reduced the Government’s Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) from over 200 schemes to just 81. This strategic move aims to enhance focus and ensure expert advice is directed where it can have the greatest impact, streamlining oversight and strengthening departmental accountability.
Key Takeaways
- The GMPP has been cut from over 200 projects to 81.
- Projects must now support a top government priority, have a whole-life cost exceeding £1bn, and benefit most from central support.
- The reduction is intended to allow Nista to provide more targeted and agile support.
- Major civils projects largely remain within the portfolio, but some road and specific infrastructure projects have been removed.
- Nista is collaborating with industry leaders to improve project delivery and alignment.
Streamlining for Impact
Nista, which took over management of the GMPP from the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) last year, has implemented new criteria for inclusion. Projects must now “support a top government priority,” possess a whole-life cost exceeding £1 billion, and be projects that would “benefit most from central support and scrutiny.” This rigorous selection process is designed to concentrate Nista’s resources and expertise on the most critical and impactful initiatives.
Projects Remaining and Excluded
The majority of significant civil engineering projects, including HS2 Phase 1, East West Rail, Sizewell C, Northern Powerhouse Rail, Lower Thames Crossing, and the Midlands Rail Hub, remain within the revised GMPP. However, some schemes, such as the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet and A417 Missing Link road projects, along with the Sellafield product and residue store retreatment plant project and the public sector decarbonisation fund, have been removed. Nista clarified that projects not included still receive support and are delivered according to government priorities, with provisions for adding strategically vital projects in exceptional circumstances.
Collaboration with Industry
To further bolster project delivery, Nista has been engaging with leaders from major UK contractors. A recent roundtable, co-hosted by Balfour Beatty and Nista CEO Becky Wood, brought together executives from firms like Kier, Costain, Galliford Try, and Mace, alongside government representatives. The discussions focused on aligning industry and government efforts, exploring shared approaches to benchmarking, and enhancing productivity to deliver resilient, affordable, and sustainable infrastructure. Participants acknowledged that collaboration is key to achieving meaningful progress and committed to continued joint action.
Driving Economic Growth
Andy Beard, managing director for infrastructure in Europe at Mace Consult, noted that while the UK possesses world-leading delivery capabilities, it often lags behind international peers in project completion times. He highlighted that a more focused portfolio, with targeted support for high-impact programmes, is a positive step towards addressing challenges such as external economic volatility. The progress of these 81 key programmes is expected to serve as a significant indicator of effective government delivery and its contribution to economic growth.
