Partner London
"The interactive online platform provides unprecedented transparency on 780 planned projects worth £530bn over the next decade."
On 17 July 2025, the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (“NISTA”) launched a groundbreaking Infrastructure Pipeline tool, representing a significant advancement in the UK’s approach to infrastructure planning and delivery.
The interactive online platform provides unprecedented transparency on 780 planned projects worth £530bn over the next decade, including £285bn of public sector funding. This development marks a decisive shift from the historically fragmented and unpredictable nature of UK infrastructure planning towards a more coordinated, transparent approach giving industry stakeholders the certainty needed to plan effectively.
The tool has been widely welcomed by industry leaders as a crucial step in supporting the government’s 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy and enabling the construction sector to invest confidently in skills, innovation and capacity.
Previous Update Summary (October 2024)
In our October 2024 update, we outlined NISTA’s formation through the merger of the National Infrastructure Commission and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority. This consolidation was designed to address the longstanding disconnect between strategic planning and practical implementation that had historically hampered major infrastructure projects. We also detailed the introduction of The Teal Book, a comprehensive framework for project delivery that works alongside the Construction Playbook to promote best practices across government departments and arm’s length bodies. Industry leaders, including AECOM’s CEO Richard Whitehead and Energy UK’s Deputy Director Charles Wood, welcomed these developments as significant steps towards addressing the UK’s infrastructure challenges and supporting the transition to cleaner energy sources.
The Infrastructure Pipeline: A New Era of Transparency
The newly launched Infrastructure Pipeline tool represents the practical implementation of NISTA’s mandate to streamline infrastructure delivery. Developed after extensive consultation with industry stakeholders, the tool provides real-time updates on 780 planned private and public sector projects across transport, energy, education, and healthcare sectors. The pipeline outlines £530bn of investments over the next decade, including £285bn of public sector funding, following the government’s June 2025 announcement of £725bn for infrastructure projects over the next ten years.
"The pipeline outlines £530bn of investments over the next decade, including £285bn of public sector funding."
NISTA CEO Becky Wood emphasised the collaborative approach taken in developing the tool: “We’ve listened to a wide range of voices to ensure this pipeline is designed to give the infrastructure sector the information and insights needed to plan with confidence and to build the skills, workforce and supply chains required. NISTA is committed to working with investors, operators and construction firms on future iterations to ensure the pipeline is where private and public sector partners will stand firmly behind a shared ambition to do things better”.
Industry Response: A Welcome Step Forward
The launch has been met with overwhelming support from industry leaders, who have long advocated for greater certainty in infrastructure planning. Marie-Claude Hemming, Policy Director of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), stated: “This is precisely the kind of clarity and long-term vision our industry needs. For too long, infrastructure planning in Britain has been plagued by short-termism, with skills and labour recruitment matching the peak and troughs of government commitment to projects”.
John Foster, Chief Policy Officer at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), described the tool as “exactly what business needs to plan, invest, and build with confidence,” whilst Sam Gould, Director of Policy and External Affairs at the Institution of Civil Engineers, highlighted its “essential clarity for the industry to plan – not just for delivery, but to enable better workforce planning and attract necessary finance”.
Leo Quinn, Group Chief Executive of Balfour Beatty, noted: “The new Infrastructure Pipeline is a big step forward, giving industry the clarity and confidence to invest in skills, grow capability and deliver sustainable, digital solutions. It’s what Balfour Beatty has been calling for: funded schemes, greater detail and transparency, and real-time updates to support business planning”.
"The Infrastructure Pipeline tool addresses several critical challenges that have historically hindered effective project delivery in the UK construction sector."
Practical Implications
The Infrastructure Pipeline tool addresses several critical challenges that have historically hindered effective project delivery in the UK construction sector:
- Long-term Planning: By providing visibility of projects over a ten-year horizon, the tool enables construction firms to develop strategic workforce plans, invest in training and technology and build supply chain capacity with confidence;
- Resource Allocation: With detailed information about project timelines, status and expenditure, contractors can more effectively allocate resources across multiple projects, potentially reducing costs and improving efficiency;
- Investment Certainty: The transparency provided by the tool is likely to boost investor confidence in UK infrastructure, potentially increasing private sector participation and funding for major projects; and
- Regional Balance: The tool’s ability to provide regional overviews of planned investments supports the government’s levelling-up agenda and helps construction firms.
