Recommendation 8

The NIC stated that new economic infrastructure must take a cross-sectoral, evidence- based and long-term perspective.11 It said that this should increase the likelihood that the strategic case will remain relevant and persuasive as time goes on, which is likely to make it easier for delivery bodies to match the scope of the project with its strategic objectives. It told us that in the course of the work on the NIC’s review of Rail Needs Assessment for the North and the Midlands, it has seen a number of examples of the issues the NAO identified occurring with major rail projects, such as significant changes in scope during a project without sufficient review of the objectives and plans, and not considering operations at an early enough stage.12