Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Accepted
Infrastructure pipeline lacks consistent past performance analysis and year-on-year comparability
Recommendation
To improve the transparency of longer-term investment priorities and to support investors with planning, the IPA had published the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline annually from 2016 to 2024 – with the exception of 2019, 2020 and 2022. The 2024 publication contains details of the forthcoming procurement and assumptions for the estimated value of the investment that will be delivered via public finance and private finance across a range of infrastructure types.10 There has been no analysis of past performance for projects in the pipeline, as the data is too inconsistent to compare pipelines year on year, and three missing publication years 7 Committee of Public Accounts, Government’s use of private finance for infrastructure 8 Q 2 9 Qq 10 and 12 10 C&AG’s Report, para 2.11 8 have further reduced the value of the pipeline. The 2024 iteration of the pipeline was also a single snapshot in time, reflecting the previous government’s priorities.11
Government Response Summary
The government has launched a new dynamic Infrastructure Pipeline, published by NISTA in July 2025, which will be updated every six months to improve transparency and support investor planning.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 1.2 The Committee’s recommendation was based on the Infrastructure and Projects Authority’s (IPA) 2024 National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline; since then the government has launched a new dynamic pipeline. The Infrastructure Pipeline, published by NISTA in July 2025, is a tool developed in collaboration with industry stakeholders, with updates added every 6 months. The purpose of the Infrastructure Pipeline is to enable the infrastructure industry and investors to plan with greater confidence, therefore strengthening capacity and capability and speeding up infrastructure delivery. The July iteration of the Pipeline is a first step in its development, and as it further evolves, it will also demonstrate opportunities for private investment in UK infrastructure. NISTA, a Joint Unit of the Treasury and the Cabinet Office, will continue its comprehensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, ensuring the Infrastructure Pipeline is tailored to meet the needs of core audiences. 1.3 Plans for the Pipeline's development are outlined in more detail in the published Pipeline dashboard. They are further referenced in NISTA's letter to the Committee, sent alongside this Treasury Minute, which also summarises how the Infrastructure Pipeline will support the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy.