Infrastructure Pipeline Updated
The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) has published the first update of the Infrastructure Pipeline, which now details 734 projects covering £718 billion of public and private sector investment over the next decade. This is up from a total of £530 billion when the pipeline was first published last summer.
Designed to give businesses across the industry the confidence they need to invest in skills, capacity and productivity, the updated pipeline also includes an estimate of future workforce demand, broken down by region and sector. Overall, it is anticipated that delivering the pipeline will require an annual average workforce of between 629,000 and 706,000 over the next five years.
Projects included in the pipeline have a cost of £25 million or above for economic infrastructure and £15 million or above for social infrastructure. Based on feedback from Build UK and its members, there is now additional ‘more granular’ information included for projects, such as client details, type of work, and estimated start dates, as well as potential investment opportunities. NISTA is committed to updating the pipeline twice a year, and Build UK is calling on the Government to turn its infrastructure ambition into action and kickstart the delivery of projects across the UK.
JCT Contracts
The JCT 2016 Edition of contracts will be withdrawn from sale on 31 March 2026. Members should now be using JCT 2024 to ensure that their contracts are up to date, and all the forms are available via the JCT Construct subscription service, in On Demand digital form, and hardcopy. JCT has also published a guide on selecting the appropriate contract for a project.
CSCS Provisional Card
CSCS is consulting on a proposal to allow a one‐off renewal of the six‐month Provisional card, used for individuals on probation while employers assess their suitability. Concerns have been raised about securing sustained employment before the card expires, and the change is designed to avoid creating a barrier to re‐entering the industry. Members can share their views until Friday 17 April.
Competence Standards
The BSI is reviewing the frameworks used by Principal Designers and Principal Contractors to demonstrate competence under the Building Safety Act. The aim is to ensure that PAS 8671 and PAS 8672 are fit for purpose based on the latest legislation, and members can submit feedback until Tuesday 31 March by registering on the Built Environment Competence Hub.