Recommendation 22

FCDO completed or started work on 200 capital projects between April 2018 and November 2024, with a total value of £850 million. FCDO does not hold data on its track record in delivering its projects, but several high-profile projects have run significantly over time and budget.58 • FCDO’s Washington Embassy programme completed 12 months behind schedule and its cost increased from £112 million to £160 million (inclusive of contingency costs).59 FCDO told us the main issues were starting the project during COVID-19 and the 90-year-old residence being in poorer underlying condition and requiring more rectification than expected.60 • FCDO’s new High Commission building in Ottawa completed 18 months behind schedule and around £10 million over budget.61 FCDO told us that, as with Washington, the project was affected by COVID-19 and with hindsight it was a mistake to start both projects during a pandemic. Another issue was industrial action in the Canadian construction industry.62