Infrastructure Pipeline Analysis – What's in it for NFRC Members in Each Region
The newly updated infrastructure pipeline outlines 780 public and private sector projects worth £530 billion over the next decade, including £285 billion worth of fully publicly funded. It now includes a more user-friendly online portal with improved filtering options by sector, region, and delivery stage, enhancing accessibility and usability.
This article offers a brief overview of the recent changes to the platform compared to the 2023 pipeline, followed by a summary of key regional work opportunities currently in the pre-construction phase. These projects have the potential to generate significant future contract opportunities.
For NFRC Members who work in the public sector but do not focus on large infrastructure projects, the Central Digital Platform which was launched earlier this year as part of the Procurement Act 2023, provides an effective platform to identify upcoming smaller scale projects in your area. Sign up for and view the ‘Find a Tender’ service here.
General Analysis
Despite improvements to the pipeline's functionality, significant shortcomings remain. Much of the public sector spending data still only extends to 2029/30, the end of the current Spending Review period, with limited visibility beyond that. A new category called “clear identified need but not yet funded” has been introduced for many schemes, even before 2030, but it offers little assurance to potential investors.
Projects are included in the pipeline if they exceed £25 million in economic infrastructure or £15 million in social infrastructure. However, some entries now present aggregate totals without annual breakdowns, reducing transparency compared to the 2023 version. Notably, around 200 Great British Energy projects to install solar panels on public buildings are listed without consistent or detailed funding information, despite a March announcement committing £80m for 200 schools and £100m for almost 200 NHS sites.
A key challenge remains securing robust data from across government departments, particularly as some have yet to allocate recent Spending Review funds or finalise project details. Currently, many fields are empty or missing, with inconsistent formatting between department projects. NISTA has said they recognise the platform “does not yet tick all the boxes”. The government's ambition to update the pipeline every six months to ensure it is an effective investment driver hinges on resolving these issues.
Future updates will aim to improve data on workforce and skills requirements and align with infrastructure plans in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, of which there is currently limited visibility. There are also plans for the pipeline to integrate with procurement pipelines mandated under the Procurement Act 2023. Those who use the digital pipeline are required to leave feedback to improve future functionality.
Regional Breakdowns
Below, you will find a regional breakdown of projects and initiatives within sectors most likely to generate work for NFRC Members – simply click your region and a spreadsheet with projects to keep an eye on will be downloaded. While the focus is on these priority areas, other sectors like electricity generation and roads will also offer further auxiliary opportunities.
Members are advised to also consult Barbour ABI’s free tool here, which provides a user-friendly way to navigate the pipeline by region, subsector, and procurement status.