09-07-2025
Building big in Britain takes far longer than rest of developed world
Major building projects in the UK take two and half years longer to complete than in the rest of the developed world, according to an analysis.
The research has suggested that about one in ten 'mega-projects' in Britain are at a high risk of severe delays or going vastly over budget.
Ministers hope to use the powers of parliament to cut the time it takes to approve railways, power stations and other infrastructure projects.
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Analysis of 5,000 mega-projects by Mace, the construction group, found that it took an average of 12.5 years for one to be delivered in the UK compared with 8.8 years in the United States and 9.9 in Australia.
In the UK there are slightly fewer than 500 active mega-projects, defined as having a value of more than $1 billion, three times more than in 2010. Of those, 52 are at a high risk of a prolonged pause with no clear plan for recovery.
The report said that the UK performed 'particularly poorly' due to 'a lack of clear strategic direction at the government level' as well as 'bureaucratic consenting processes' which have seen the average time taken to secure approval double between 2009 and 2019.
It added: 'There is an overriding sense that a lack of central strategic direction is the biggest barrier to more effective delivery in the UK.'
Projects which are thought to face significant overruns in time and cost include an underground metro system in Bristol, the extension of the Bakerloo line in London, the dualling of the A9 road in Scotland and the regeneration of the Edinburgh waterfront.
There are also 18 'giga-projects' — those worth more than $10 billion — underway in Britain, such as HS2 and the Lower Thames Crossing.
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Britain is particularly slow at delivering mega-projects which focus on infrastructure, such as railways or bridges. In that category, the average delivery takes 16.2 years, some 25 per cent more than the average of developed countries.
Jason Millett, Mace's chief executive, said: 'The UK is renowned for delivering large-scale projects like the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; we have the supply chain to meet the challenge. In recent years however our economic and operating environment has not helped programmes of this size and scope.
'Positive steps are now being taken by the government to address the planning system and reduce the bureaucracy that has built up.'
A government spokesman said: 'Despite the broken system we inherited, we have taken urgent action to get Britain building again.
'We have made more decisions on major infrastructure projects in a single year than any previous government, putting us on track to meet our target of 150 decisions on major projects and deliver the change people need.
'The Office for Budget Responsibility has confirmed our planning reforms will drive housebuilding to its highest level in over 40 years and boost the economy by £6.8 billion.'
