Senior industry figures will drive plan to save 拢3bn a year on infrastructure costs

A Treasury plan to save up to 拢3bn a year on infrastructure construction costs is to be driven by senior industry figures.

The Infrastucture Cost Review Implementation Plan, published last Thursday, outlines a programme of activity to secure savings first identified in the Infrastructure Cost Report in December 2010. It includes plans for three steering groups:

  • Simon Kirby of Network Rail will head up an infrastructure client and procurement group
  • Stephen Fox of Bam Nuttall will lead the infrastructure industry group
  • Brian Collins, adviser to the departments of transport and business, will run the infrastructure data group.

Alasdair Reisner, head of public affairs at CECA, said: 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to have big personalities as part of this process. Including respected people from across the industry can only help to get this plan implemented.鈥�

Other elements of the plan are:

  • A charter between construction and government that sets out 鈥渂ehaviours expected in future relationships鈥�
  • A data group made up of the public sector and industry practitioners to extend the use of cost benchmarking in infrastructure delivery
  • A 鈥渏oint programme management board鈥� to be chaired by Paul Morrell, the government鈥檚 chief construction adviser, to ensure the plan is implemented across the wider public sector.

Alexander Jan, Arup associate director, said: 鈥淭he concept of certainty is helpful and benefits both the industry and funders.鈥�

The measures are focused on economic infrastructure, particularly civil engineering, waste, water, transport and energy.

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