Suggestions for infrastructure project delivery - Revision history

Editor at 11:10, 30 April 2021

2021-04-30T11:10:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:10, 30 April 2021
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	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

		+	* Engineers make policy decisions a reality.
	* Green book.		* Green book.
	* High Speed 2 (HS2).		* High Speed 2 (HS2).

Editor: moved Optimism over infrastructure project delivery to Suggestions for infrastructure project delivery

2021-03-31T11:08:29Z

moved Optimism over infrastructure project delivery to Suggestions for infrastructure project delivery

← Older revision

Revision as of 11:08, 31 March 2021

Editor at 10:55, 31 March 2021

2021-03-31T10:55:10Z

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	-----		-----
−	This article originally appeared on [https://www.ice.org.uk/news-and-insight/the-infrastructure-blog/march-2021/why-more-positive-ability-major-projects The Infrastructure Blog] portion of the ICE website. It was written by Jonathan Spruce, ICE Fellow, and published on 18 March 2021.	+	This article originally appeared under the headline, '[https://www.ice.org.uk/news-and-insight/the-infrastructure-blog/march-2021/why-more-positive-ability-major-projects Why we should be more positive about our ability to deliver major projects]' on The Infrastructure Blog portion of the ICE website. It was written by Jonathan Spruce, ICE Fellow, and published on 18 March 2021.

	--[[User:The_Institution_of_Civil_Engineers\|The Institution of Civil Engineers]]		--[[User:The_Institution_of_Civil_Engineers\|The Institution of Civil Engineers]]

Editor: moved Why we should be more positive about our ability to deliver major projects to Optimism over infrastructure project delivery

2021-03-31T10:53:53Z

moved Why we should be more positive about our ability to deliver major projects to Optimism over infrastructure project delivery

← Older revision

Revision as of 10:53, 31 March 2021

Editor at 10:50, 31 March 2021

2021-03-31T10:50:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:50, 31 March 2021
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	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

		+	* Green book.
		+	* High Speed 2 (HS2).
	* ICE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.		* ICE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
		+	* Infrastructure.
		+	* Is a bridge needed between Scotland and Northern Ireland?
		+	* Levelling up the infrastructure agenda.
		+	* Net zero carbon 2050.
		+	* New deal for infrastructure 2020.
		+	* Project 13.
		+	* The Construction Playbook.

	= External resources =		= External resources =

Editor at 10:41, 31 March 2021

2021-03-31T10:41:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:41, 31 March 2021
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	ICE Fellow Jonathan Spruce discusses his experience of giving evidence to the Transport Select Committee on the delivery and appraisal of major transport infrastructure projects.		ICE Fellow Jonathan Spruce discusses his experience of giving evidence to the Transport Select Committee on the delivery and appraisal of major transport infrastructure projects.

−	= ~~Talk of major~~ projects =	+	= Putting projects in perspective =

	How many times have we heard or read stories about major infrastructure projects that go over budget and are delivered months and even years late? The London Olympics, Crossrail and HS2 are just some examples of this. Yet there are many other major projects that are delivered either on or ahead of time, and on budget, the most recent of which is the A14 improvement scheme in Cambridgeshire.<br />		How many times have we heard or read stories about major infrastructure projects that go over budget and are delivered months and even years late? The London Olympics, Crossrail and HS2 are just some examples of this. Yet there are many other major projects that are delivered either on or ahead of time, and on budget, the most recent of which is the A14 improvement scheme in Cambridgeshire.<br />
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	= The right tools are in place for better delivery =		= The right tools are in place for better delivery =

−	To come back to my starting point – are we always that poor at delivering major infrastructure projects in this country? I do not think so. Enterprise-based delivery models, such as the Infrastructure Client Group’s Project 13, which ICE has been supporting, provide an example of the type of initiative that could define the way in which major infrastructure projects are delivered in the future.<br />	+	To come back to my starting point – are we always that poor at delivering major infrastructure projects in this country? I do not think so.
		+
		+	Enterprise-based delivery models, such as the Infrastructure Client Group’s Project 13, which ICE has been supporting, provide an example of the type of initiative that could define the way in which major infrastructure projects are delivered in the future. The Construction Playbook, which was developed in partnership with industry, provides core principles to ensure projects are set up in the right way from the start.<br />
	<br />		<br />
−	~~The Construction Playbook~~, ~~which was developed in partnership with~~ industry~~, provides core principles~~ to ~~ensure projects are set up in~~ the ~~right~~ way ~~from the start~~.<br />	+	It appears to me that the key to better delivery is to assemble a coherent and committed forward vision programme (like the National Infrastructure Strategy), backed up by a sound evidence base (the National Needs Assessment and regional strategies) and for the industry as a whole to commit to deliver the agreed objectives (particularly net zero) in a collaborative way, learning lessons as we go.<br />
	<br />		<br />
−	~~It appears~~ to ~~me that the key to better delivery is to assemble~~ a ~~coherent and committed forward vision programme (like the National Infrastructure Strategy), backed up by~~ a ~~sound evidence base (~~the ~~National Needs Assessment and regional strategies), and for the industry as a whole to commit~~ to deliver ~~the agreed objectives (particularly~~ net zero) in a ~~collaborative way~~, ~~learning lessons as we go~~.<br />	+	A clear pathway to a sustainable future gives us a means of attracting the skills that we need to deliver our net zero future – skills that may well be sat in primary schools at this time, and that will come from a diverse array of backgrounds, genders and ethnicities.<br />
	<br />		<br />
−	A clear pathway to a sustainable future gives us a means of attracting the skills that we need to deliver our net zero future – skills that may well be sat in primary schools at this time, and that will come from a diverse array of backgrounds, genders, and ethnicity.<br />	+	Rachel Skinner’s 2021 ICE Presidential Address asked us all ‘[https://www.ice.org.uk/news-and-insight/ice-community-blog/december-2020/shaping-zero-what-are-you-going-to-do what are we going to do]’ to meet the vision of net zero. That challenge remains, but it’s one that we can rise to, and hopefully by similar work with Government, we can also help to shape.
−	~~<br />~~	+
−	Rachel Skinner’s Presidential Address asked us all ~~‘what~~ are we going to ~~do’~~ to meet the vision of net zero. That challenge remains, but it’s one that we can rise to, and hopefully by similar work with Government, we can also help to shape.	+

	-----		-----
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	* ICE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.		* ICE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
		+
		+	= External resources =
		+
		+	* Rachel Skinner, [https://www.ice.org.uk/news-and-insight/ice-community-blog/december-2020/shaping-zero-what-are-you-going-to-do Shaping Zero - What are you going to do]?
		+
		+	[[Category:DCN_Commentary]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_News]] [[Category:DCN_Policy]] [[Category:News]] [[Category:Sustainability]] [[Category:Construction_management]]

Editor at 10:33, 31 March 2021

2021-03-31T10:33:38Z

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−	\| [[File:A14Cambridgeshire.jpg]]	+	\| [[File:A14Cambridgeshire.jpg\|link=File:A14Cambridgeshire.jpg]]
	\|-		\|-
	\| This photo, taken in 2008, shows a road safety update on the A14.		\| This photo, taken in 2008, shows a road safety update on the A14.
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	= Introduction =		= Introduction =

−	ICE Fellow Jonathan Spruce discusses his experience ~~in March 2021~~ of giving evidence to the Transport Select Committee on the delivery and appraisal of major transport infrastructure projects.	+	ICE Fellow Jonathan Spruce discusses his experience of giving evidence to the Transport Select Committee on the delivery and appraisal of major transport infrastructure projects.

	= Talk of major projects =		= Talk of major projects =
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	How many times have we heard or read stories about major infrastructure projects that go over budget and are delivered months and even years late? The London Olympics, Crossrail and HS2 are just some examples of this. Yet there are many other major projects that are delivered either on or ahead of time, and on budget, the most recent of which is the A14 improvement scheme in Cambridgeshire.<br />		How many times have we heard or read stories about major infrastructure projects that go over budget and are delivered months and even years late? The London Olympics, Crossrail and HS2 are just some examples of this. Yet there are many other major projects that are delivered either on or ahead of time, and on budget, the most recent of which is the A14 improvement scheme in Cambridgeshire.<br />
	<br />		<br />
−	Why major projects do go over time and budget, and how the refreshed Green Book published in November 2020 will address or exacerbate this, is the subject of an inquiry from the House of Commons Transport Committee to which ICE submitted written evidence.~~<br />~~	+	Why major projects do go over time and budget, and how the refreshed Green Book published in November 2020 will address or exacerbate this, is the subject of an inquiry from the House of Commons Transport Committee to which ICE submitted written evidence. Setting the record straight and highlighting what else we could do were two important aspects that I was only too pleased to talk about in more detail when I appeared before the Committee in March 2021.
−	~~<br />~~	+
−	Setting the record straight and highlighting what else we could do were two important aspects that I was only too pleased to talk about in more detail when I appeared before the Committee ~~earlier this week~~.	+

	= Focusing on outcomes through the Green Book =		= Focusing on outcomes through the Green Book =

−	ICE welcomes the new greener Green Book – however, it is designed to appraise projects and programmes based on clear, measurable and quantifiable metrics, and successful outcomes of strategic national objectives such as levelling-up and net zero have not yet been defined.<br />	+	ICE welcomes the new greener Green Book – however, it is designed to appraise projects and programmes based on clear, measurable and quantifiable metrics, and successful outcomes of strategic national objectives (such as levelling-up and net zero) have not yet been defined. Achieving net zero remains the single biggest challenge to us in the coming years, so understanding how the Green Book principles are applied to achieve this objective is critical.<br />
	<br />		<br />
−	~~Achieving net zero remains~~ the ~~single biggest challenge~~ to us in the ~~coming years~~, ~~so understanding how~~ the ~~Green Book principles are applied to achieve this objective is critical~~.<br />	+	Indeed, this was one of the key points that I tried to get across to the committee – very often, there’s an unhealthy focus on capital costs and benefit cost ratios early on in the project development process, driven primarily by the current system. This loses sight of both the whole life costs of a project and its overall value, as well as how it achieves national – and local – policy objectives.<br />
	<br />		<br />
−	Indeed, this was one of the key points that I tried to get across to the committee – very often, there’s an unhealthy focus on capital costs and benefit cost ratios early on in the project development process, driven primarily by the current system.<br />	+	To meet these more local objectives, the new Green Book needs to be backed up with greater devolution of decision making and funding regarding infrastructure in order to improve capability and pace and encourage more developed evidence bases at regional levels. The work of sub-national transport bodies has started this process, but there needs to be a consistency of strategic need for infrastructure that runs through national, regional and local programmes.<br />
−	~~<br />~~	+
−	~~This loses sight of both the whole-life costs of a project and its overall value, as well as how it achieves national – and local – policy objectives.<br />~~	+
−	~~<br />~~	+
−	To meet these more local objectives, the new Green Book needs to be backed up with greater devolution of decision-making and funding regarding infrastructure in order to improve capability and pace~~, encouraging~~ more developed evidence bases at regional levels.~~<br />~~	+
−	~~<br />~~	+
−	The work of sub-national transport bodies has started this process, but there needs to be a consistency of strategic need for infrastructure that runs through national, regional and local programmes.<br />	+
	<br />		<br />
	Simply building a fixed link between Scotland and Northern Ireland, for example, should not be approved unless there is a social, economic and environmental case that works for local communities and the wider economy.		Simply building a fixed link between Scotland and Northern Ireland, for example, should not be approved unless there is a social, economic and environmental case that works for local communities and the wider economy.
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	= Emphasising the benefits =		= Emphasising the benefits =

−	ICE’s work on closing the gap between project forecasts and outturns has shown that 74% of British adults think politicians should talk to the public more about the benefits of major infrastructure projects, rather than the costs.<br />	+	ICE’s work on closing the gap between project forecasts and outturns has shown that 74% of British adults think politicians should talk to the public more about the benefits of major infrastructure projects, rather than the costs. HS2 is a good example of how an initial narrative around time savings between Birmingham and London failed to appreciate the wider benefits of such a transformational piece of national infrastructure, such as released capacity on the existing network and the importance of connecting key centres in the Midlands and the North.<br />
	<br />		<br />
−	HS2 is a good example of how an initial narrative around time savings between Birmingham and London failed to appreciate the wider benefits of such a transformational piece of national infrastructure, such as released capacity on the existing network and the importance of connecting key centres in the Midlands and the North.<br />	+	Both net zero and levelling up are key objectives that we need to use when examining major projects. Transport is the largest source of CO2 emissions in the UK, deriving primarily from the use of petrol and diesel in road transport. In order to deliver major transport projects that are fit for the future, a Net Zero Infrastructure Plan for transitioning the UK’s economic infrastructure systems to a net zero footing must be put in place.
−	~~<br />~~	+
−	Both net zero and levelling-up are key objectives that we need to use when examining major projects. Transport is the largest source of CO2 emissions in the UK, deriving primarily from the use of petrol and diesel in road transport.	+
−		+
−	In order to deliver major transport projects that are fit for the future, a Net Zero Infrastructure Plan for transitioning the UK’s economic infrastructure systems to a net zero footing must be put in place.	+

	= The right tools are in place for better delivery =		= The right tools are in place for better delivery =

Editor at 10:24, 31 March 2021

2021-03-31T10:24:37Z

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		+	{\|
		+	\| [[File:A14Cambridgeshire.jpg]]
		+	\|-
		+	\| This photo, taken in 2008, shows a road safety update on the A14.
		+	\|}
		+
	= Introduction =		= Introduction =

Editor at 10:12, 31 March 2021

2021-03-31T10:12:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:12, 31 March 2021
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	= Introduction =		= Introduction =

−	ICE Fellow Jonathan Spruce discusses his experience of giving evidence to the Transport Select Committee on the delivery and appraisal of major transport infrastructure projects.	+	ICE Fellow Jonathan Spruce discusses his experience in March 2021 of giving evidence to the Transport Select Committee on the delivery and appraisal of major transport infrastructure projects.

	= Talk of major projects =		= Talk of major projects =

−	How many times have we heard or read stories about major infrastructure projects that go over budget and are delivered months and even years late?~~<br />~~	+	How many times have we heard or read stories about major infrastructure projects that go over budget and are delivered months and even years late? The London Olympics, Crossrail and HS2 are just some examples of this. Yet there are many other major projects that are delivered either on or ahead of time, and on budget, the most recent of which is the A14 improvement scheme in Cambridgeshire.<br />
−	~~<br />~~	+
−	The London Olympics, Crossrail and HS2 are just some examples of this. Yet there are many other major projects that are delivered either on or ahead of time, and on budget, the most recent of which is the A14 improvement scheme in Cambridgeshire.<br />	+
	<br />		<br />
	Why major projects do go over time and budget, and how the refreshed Green Book published in November 2020 will address or exacerbate this, is the subject of an inquiry from the House of Commons Transport Committee to which ICE submitted written evidence.<br />		Why major projects do go over time and budget, and how the refreshed Green Book published in November 2020 will address or exacerbate this, is the subject of an inquiry from the House of Commons Transport Committee to which ICE submitted written evidence.<br />

Editor: Created page with "= Introduction = ICE Fellow Jonathan Spruce discusses his experience of giving evidence to the Transport Select Committee on the delivery and appraisal of major transport infras..."

2021-03-31T10:01:39Z

Created page with "= Introduction = ICE Fellow Jonathan Spruce discusses his experience of giving evidence to the Transport Select Committee on the delivery and appraisal of major transport infras..."

New page

= Introduction =

ICE Fellow Jonathan Spruce discusses his experience of giving evidence to the Transport Select Committee on the delivery and appraisal of major transport infrastructure projects.

= Talk of major projects =

How many times have we heard or read stories about major infrastructure projects that go over budget and are delivered months and even years late? 
 
The London Olympics, Crossrail and HS2 are just some examples of this. Yet there are many other major projects that are delivered either on or ahead of time, and on budget, the most recent of which is the A14 improvement scheme in Cambridgeshire. 
 
Why major projects do go over time and budget, and how the refreshed Green Book published in November 2020 will address or exacerbate this, is the subject of an inquiry from the House of Commons Transport Committee to which ICE submitted written evidence. 
 
Setting the record straight and highlighting what else we could do were two important aspects that I was only too pleased to talk about in more detail when I appeared before the Committee earlier this week.

= Focusing on outcomes through the Green Book =

ICE welcomes the new greener Green Book – however, it is designed to appraise projects and programmes based on clear, measurable and quantifiable metrics, and successful outcomes of strategic national objectives such as levelling-up and net zero have not yet been defined. 
 
Achieving net zero remains the single biggest challenge to us in the coming years, so understanding how the Green Book principles are applied to achieve this objective is critical. 
 
Indeed, this was one of the key points that I tried to get across to the committee – very often, there’s an unhealthy focus on capital costs and benefit cost ratios early on in the project development process, driven primarily by the current system. 
 
This loses sight of both the whole-life costs of a project and its overall value, as well as how it achieves national – and local – policy objectives. 
 
To meet these more local objectives, the new Green Book needs to be backed up with greater devolution of decision-making and funding regarding infrastructure in order to improve capability and pace, encouraging more developed evidence bases at regional levels. 
 
The work of sub-national transport bodies has started this process, but there needs to be a consistency of strategic need for infrastructure that runs through national, regional and local programmes. 
 
Simply building a fixed link between Scotland and Northern Ireland, for example, should not be approved unless there is a social, economic and environmental case that works for local communities and the wider economy.

= Emphasising the benefits =

ICE’s work on closing the gap between project forecasts and outturns has shown that 74% of British adults think politicians should talk to the public more about the benefits of major infrastructure projects, rather than the costs. 
 
HS2 is a good example of how an initial narrative around time savings between Birmingham and London failed to appreciate the wider benefits of such a transformational piece of national infrastructure, such as released capacity on the existing network and the importance of connecting key centres in the Midlands and the North. 
 
Both net zero and levelling-up are key objectives that we need to use when examining major projects. Transport is the largest source of CO2 emissions in the UK, deriving primarily from the use of petrol and diesel in road transport.

In order to deliver major transport projects that are fit for the future, a Net Zero Infrastructure Plan for transitioning the UK’s economic infrastructure systems to a net zero footing must be put in place.

= The right tools are in place for better delivery =

To come back to my starting point – are we always that poor at delivering major infrastructure projects in this country? I do not think so. Enterprise-based delivery models, such as the Infrastructure Client Group’s Project 13, which ICE has been supporting, provide an example of the type of initiative that could define the way in which major infrastructure projects are delivered in the future. 
 
The Construction Playbook, which was developed in partnership with industry, provides core principles to ensure projects are set up in the right way from the start. 
 
It appears to me that the key to better delivery is to assemble a coherent and committed forward vision programme (like the National Infrastructure Strategy), backed up by a sound evidence base (the National Needs Assessment and regional strategies), and for the industry as a whole to commit to deliver the agreed objectives (particularly net zero) in a collaborative way, learning lessons as we go. 
 
A clear pathway to a sustainable future gives us a means of attracting the skills that we need to deliver our net zero future – skills that may well be sat in primary schools at this time, and that will come from a diverse array of backgrounds, genders, and ethnicity. 
 
Rachel Skinner’s Presidential Address asked us all ‘what are we going to do’ to meet the vision of net zero. That challenge remains, but it’s one that we can rise to, and hopefully by similar work with Government, we can also help to shape.

-----
This article originally appeared on [https://www.ice.org.uk/news-and-insight/the-infrastructure-blog/march-2021/why-more-positive-ability-major-projects The Infrastructure Blog] portion of the ICE website. It was written by Jonathan Spruce, ICE Fellow, and published on 18 March 2021.

--[[User:The_Institution_of_Civil_Engineers|The Institution of Civil Engineers]]

= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

* ICE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.