Major Project Scope Uncertainty
Uncertainty regarding the scope of major public projects, with political decision-making identified as a significant risk to progress.
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Committee recommendation
69match
#108 - 1st Report - New Towns: Commit and Build
Central Government must take overall control of the new towns programme and should treat it as a major national project. All the problems identified in this report could be solved more easily if the key players involved could be sure that current government is committed to seeing the programme through to completion. Developers, the construction sector, training providers,...
Matched on
terms: major, project
NAO recommendation
68match
The Transpennine Route Upgrade Programme
The Department and Network Rail should review their business case approvals strategy and how this will manage the uncertainty in design and cost from projects still at an early stage. The strategy should include setting out what the focus of future update approvals will be to reduce the risk of scope changes being introduced back into the Programme.
Matched on
terms: project, scope, uncertainty
NAO recommendation
64match
The UK border: Implementing an effective trade border
By the end of 2024 the Cabinet Office and HMRC should refresh the delivery roadmap for the Single Trade Window (STW) programme to ensure its scope, timetable and project management arrangements are appropriate. This should consider the challenges identified in our assessment of the STW programme.
Matched on
terms: project, scope
Inquiry recommendation
64match
ETI-9 - Risk Management Standards
The identification and management of risk should be an integral part of the governance of all major public-sector contracts in future. In identifying and managing risk the following principles should be adopted: • Probabilistic forecasts rather than single-point forecasts should be used to take account of the risk appetite of funders and project sponsors. • Funders, sponsors and...
Matched on
terms: major, project
IMB recommendation
64match
Ford (2022)
Whilst accepting that the country is facing significant economic headwinds, it is nonetheless disappointing to report on the level of uncertainty in committing the funding for both day to day activities and most particularly capital projects. The reversal of the progress on the plan to replace B wing and the health centre, with completion now pushed out to...
Matched on
terms: project, uncertainty
Committee recommendation
61match
#3 - 15th Report - Government's intervention in British Steel Ltd
The Department has not set out a clear or timely pathway for how long it will continue to support the company for, increasing the risk that costs and uncertainty will continue to grow. British Steel’s 4,052 employees were given short-term stability when the intervention happened, but there is still uncertainty over their long-term future employment. The Steel Industry...
Matched on
terms: uncertainty
Committee recommendation
61match
#2 - 15th Report - Government's intervention in British Steel Ltd
The Department does not know how much the intervention will cost the taxpayer. As at March 2026, spending was expected to reach £642 million by 30 June 2026, including adviser costs. Actual funding was £555 million by 18 June 2026 (not including adviser costs). The Department continues to fund the company now that it is nationalised, without a...
Matched on
terms: uncertainty
Committee recommendation
57match
#2 - 2nd Report - Research and development tax relief, HMRC data requirements, promoters of tax avoidance and...
The Government’s postponement of a final decision on creating a single merged scheme of R&D relief added to the uncertainty around R&D relief. Businesses can only start to prepare in earnest once a change is confirmed. The Government’s announcement of a prospective commencement date of an unconfirmed measure did not give businesses sufficient certainty to be able to...
Matched on
terms: uncertainty
Committee recommendation
57match
#58 - 1st Report - Long-duration energy storage: get on with it
We welcome the commitment to develop a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, which is critical for long duration energy storage, but details remain unclear. We are unclear about the level of detail—for example, whether the Plan will be at the regional level or identify major facilities—as well as who will take responsibility for delivering on the plan once it...
Matched on
terms: major
Committee recommendation
57match
#19 - 15th Report - Government's intervention in British Steel Ltd
Councillor Rob Waltham said that uncertainty over the ownership is frustrating. Charlotte Brumpton-Childs noted that government taking over a private company was an action of last resort, but nationalisation could have happened sooner, and that government should consider all options for future ownership models, including government retaining an equity stake, which has been used in infrastructure programmes such...
Matched on
terms: uncertainty
IMB recommendation
56match
Warren Hill (2025)
Furthermore, it would be helpful to have a definite picture of the future building works, including the proposed kitchen provisions so that more detailed planning can be undertaken. The current kitchen and rapid deployment cell (RDC) projects have been very 'stop - start'; could a detailed project plan and funded project plan be presented to the prison to...
Matched on
terms: project, uncertainty
Committee recommendation
53match
#115 - 1st Report - New Towns: Commit and Build
The Government must fully commit to taking ownership of the success of the new towns programme , or risk further weakening the confidence of built environment stakeholders that the Government is willing and able to deliver megaprojects .
Matched on
terms: project
Committee recommendation
53match
#113 - 1st Report - New Towns: Commit and Build
It is therefore up the Government to provide basic guarantees that they want these megaprojects to happen. Only then will then will the other key interested parties in this process—skills providers, producers of building materials, local authorities, utilities providers and more—feel able to commit to playing their essential part in the delivery of the new towns.
Matched on
terms: project
Committee recommendation
53match
#111 - 1st Report - New Towns: Commit and Build
Government commitment is needed to give confidence to interested parties at all stages in the building process. For example, suppliers of building materials will need to be sure that the Government is committed to projects of this scale before they make the capital investment necessary to increase output. 178 Likewise, housebuilding firms will only seek involvement in new...
Matched on
terms: project
Committee recommendation
53match
#100 - 1st Report - New Towns: Commit and Build
A clear ‘pipeline’ (a concept raised frequently 168 in evidence) would address the criticism that shortages of materials and labour arise because demand 169 for them is not explicit and committed. As Peabody stated, “ultimately, the greatest barrier is uncertainty.” 170
Matched on
terms: uncertainty
Committee recommendation
53match
#3 - Second Report - The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund
We are concerned about the lack of clarity surrounding core practical points relating to the ISF transition period, and the impact of this uncertainty upon organisations currently implementing CSSF programmes. It is also unknown to what extent the current commitments to transparency, monitoring and evaluation of activities will continue.
Matched on
terms: uncertainty
Committee recommendation
53match
#49 - 1st Report - Ukraine: a wake-up call
Vulnerabilities extend to the maritime domain. While the UK does have a maritime missile capability in the Tomahawk land attack cruise missile, further investment is required to enable the Royal Navy to be deployed offensively and better project lethality.
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
53match
R5 - Hospital future uncertainty resolution
Scottish Government should ensure that where any uncertainty over the future of any hospital or service exists, resolution of the uncertainty is not delayed any longer than is essential for planning and consultation to take place.
Matched on
terms: uncertainty
NAO recommendation
52match
Progress with delivering the Emergency Services Network
continues developing a revised programme plan. This should include realistic time frames that are not driven by an arbitrary date for shutting down Airwave, but which allows sufficient time to complete and test that ESN?s technical architecture works. This should include time and cost estimates that allow for optimism bias and are presented in ranges to reflect uncertainty...
Matched on
terms: uncertainty
NAO recommendation
52match
Progress report: Terminating the Magnox contract
f) through increased knowledge and experience, work to reduce uncertainty around the cost of future decommissioning work.
Matched on
terms: uncertainty
Inquiry recommendation
52match
HIDD-29 - Person in overall charge of new works to nominate a Project Manager
BR shall ensure that new works schemes in future shall have one clearly identified person in overall charge of all aspects of the project who would nominate a Project Manager from within his chain of command. For predominantly signalling schemes that individual would, in the present BR structure, report to the Regional S&T Engineer. (Paragraphs 12.28 - 12.34)
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
52match
ETI-18 - Interviews of Key Personnel in Readiness Reviews
As part of their investigations, representatives of OGC undertaking an independent “readiness review” of a publicly funded project and representatives of any person, including representatives of any public body such as Audit Scotland, undertaking a review of the progress of and/or expenditure on a project funded in whole or in part by public funds should interview key personnel...
Matched on
terms: project
NAO recommendation
52match
High Speed Two: Euston
DfT should work with the Euston Partnership, HS2 Ltd, Network Rail, Lendlease and local partners to clarify a shared understanding and expectations for the Euston programme in light of the changes and the affordability challenge. This should include reviewing or revisiting: ? the risks and opportunities that the change provides and how these are managed; ? the budget...
Matched on
terms: project
IMB recommendation
51match
Eastwood Park (2025)
Numerous works projects were delayed, including bathroom refurbishments, replacement of Res 7, replacement carpeting on Res 5 and 6, replacement fire ring main and the new video conferencing centre. There appeared to be so much waste in planning these projects, only for them to either be delayed or cancelled at the last moment. How will the Minister ensure...
Matched on
terms: project, scope
Detention investigation recommendation
51match
Investigation into the Disturbance and Fire at Yarl's Wood Removal Centre - Rec 22
IND and the Finance and Services Directorate ensure that no major project is again allowed to proceed without a properly constituted business case.
Matched on
terms: major, project
Committee recommendation
49match
#22 - 15th Report - Government's intervention in British Steel Ltd
The Department told us that its analysis shows that the UK has an abundant supply of scrap, which suggests the steel sector could transition to decarbonised scrap-based electric arc furnaces.64 The Department said that while it had done some analysis of options for developing the ironmaking capacity needed to feed electric arc furnaces, it did not yet have...
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
49match
#6 - 15th Report - Government's intervention in British Steel Ltd
The Department could not explain to us how much funding may be required or how much of the government’s £2.5 billion commitment to the steel sector remains available once support for British Steel is taken into account. The Department also could not clearly set out how it will work across government and industry to deliver the wider conditions...
Matched on
classifier match
NAO recommendation
48match
Increasing the capacity of the prison estate to meet demand
MoJ should combine thinking on policy objectives for the prison estate and improved evidence of different approaches to develop a long-term strategy to improve the resilience of the estate. It should: clarify which current expansion projects will be completed and the total cost required;
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
48match
HIDD-49 - Develop system for allocating project priority to prevent safety compromise
BR shall develop an adequate system of allocating priority to projects to ensure that safety standards are not compromised by delay.
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
48match
HIDD-31 - Require external work to be contractual, specified by Project Manager
BR shall ensure that where work is required from areas outside the command of the person in overall charge, that work should be carried out on a contractual basis to a specification provided by the Project Manager.
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
48match
HIDD-30 - Project Manager responsible for the whole project within budget and timescale
The Project Manager nominated in 29 above shall be responsible for the execution within budget and timescale of the whole project from the original estimate preparation to the project completion. He shall report to the person in overall charge as necessary for approval. (Paragraphs 12.28 - 12.34)
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
48match
SHI-3 - Clarity in brief for healthcare facility construction
It is critical that a health board formulates and then presents its requirements for the key building systems in a proposed healthcare facility (its "brief") in terms which are full, clear, and unambiguous, and that that brief is finalised before a contract is signed and Financial Close is achieved. While development of the design can be carried over...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
48match
SHI-2 - Risk assessment on funding model changes
Accordingly, in situations where the funding model or procurement route changes mid project, a risk assessment should be conducted to assess whether work done on the project up to that point is suitable for the revised project. The rationale for decisions taken in this regard should be formally recorded. The party carrying out the risk assessment should be...
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
48match
ETI-7 - External Peer Review
The assessment of risk at each stage mentioned in Recommendation 6 should be the subject of a peer review by external consultants with experience of similar large-scale infrastructure projects in the transportation sector who should submit a report of each review to the promoter and owner of the project as well as to the procurement and project manager...
Matched on
terms: project
NAO recommendation
48match
Progress with the New Hospital Programme
Announcements about major capital programmes extending over more than one spending review period should fully reflect known uncertainties so that everyone can be clear about the nature of the commitments being made.
Matched on
terms: major
NAO recommendation
48match
Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster: Progress update
The next formal milestone is for the Client Team to present Parliament with a Programme business case, currently expected in early 2023, for its approval. To develop the business case, the Client Team and Parliament need to agree what should be included and the Client Team needs more clarity around critical supporting projects, the condition of the Palace...
Matched on
terms: project
Local audit finding
48match
Public Interest Report: London Borough of Croydon
Second Croydon Report in the Public Interest, on the Fairfield Halls refurbishment delivered through the council's company Brick by Brick. The auditor concluded the council failed to ensure proper financial control and effective governance; the project was delivered late and cost substantially more than the original £30m budget.
Matched on
terms: project
Inquiry recommendation
47match
F286 - Impact assessments before structural change
Impact and risk assessments should be made public, and debated publicly, before a proposal for any major structural change to the healthcare system is accepted. Such assessments should cover at least the following issues: What is the precise issue or concern in respect of which change is necessary? Can the policy objective identified be achieved by modifications within...
Matched on
terms: major
NAO recommendation
47match
HS2: update following cancellation of Phase 2
At Euston, DfT should: ? develop a programme business case to help it and other stakeholders with decision-making across all projects within the larger Euston programme; and
Matched on
terms: project
NAO recommendation
47match
The Equipment Plan 2022 to 2032
We have assessed the Department?s progress in implementing the recommendations from our previous reports (Appendix Two). This shows that the Department is taking action to make further improvements to its approach and the reliability of its assessment. This year we recommend that the Department assesses whether its planning processes are responsive and flexible enough for the rapidly changing...
Matched on
terms: uncertainty
PFD report
45match
David Carpenter
The coroner expressed concern about the safety of bin lorry lift systems, noting that thousands of older design vehicles remain in circulation with slow uptake of safety modifications, posing a risk of inadvertent lifting of people into the hopper.
Matched on
classifier match
PFD report
45match
Catherine Moore
The JAMES maintenance system lacks clear terminology, sufficient data extraction for governance, and a searchable database for recurring issues. Furthermore, there are no formal processes for inspecting, auditing, or providing real-time feedback on MOD vehicle repairs.
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
45match
#110 - 1st Report - New Towns: Commit and Build
Today’s Government can only expect the same magnitude of impact and achievement if they are prepared to undertake the work and expend the funding needed to deliver the next generation of new towns. Otherwise, they will be setting the built environment sector and the wider public up for disappointment.
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
45match
#101 - 1st Report - New Towns: Commit and Build
This will be a long-term endeavour: in addition to political will today, new towns will require patient capital for decades to come. Investors will need to be confident that construction of new towns will begin soon and - crucially - will continue, giving them confidence that they will realise a financial return over the longer-term.
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
45match
#54 - 1st Report - Long-duration energy storage: get on with it
There are many actors with a role in delivering long-duration storage, from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, Ofgem, the proposed Future System Operator, energy companies, the electricity transmission network owners and so on. In particular, the FSO has a potentially difficult role in coordinating and balancing supply and demand on a grid that is larger,...
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
45match
#6 - 1st Report - Long-duration energy storage: get on with it
The Government should, as a matter of urgency, set an explicit minimum target for how much “no-regrets” long-duration energy storage and generating capacity it wants to see operational by 2035. It should set out a credible timescale with interim milestones for achieving this that works backwards from 2035, accounting for decision time, planning and consenting, and construction of...
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
45match
#20 - 15th Report - Government's intervention in British Steel Ltd
The government published its steel strategy in March 2026, aligned with its ten-year industrial strategy, setting out ambitions to increase the competitiveness of the UK steel sector, with an aim to increase the share of UK steel demand met by domestic production from around 30% in 2024 to 40% to 50%.57 The target date for achieving the increase...
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
45match
#13 - 15th Report - Government's intervention in British Steel Ltd
The NAO reported that while the Department has started to consider options for the longer-term future of British Steel, there is no timetable set for returning the company to the private sector.35 The Department said the process would take some time, and that it was prepared to spend a similar amount on funding British Steel in 2026–27 as...
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
45match
#5 - 15th Report - Government's intervention in British Steel Ltd
The Department has not set out a detailed implementation plan for funding and delivering its steel strategy. The government’s steel strategy, which is aligned with its ten-year industrial strategy, sets an ambition to increase the proportion of UK steel demand met by domestic production from around 30% in 2024 to 40% to 50% and to position the UK...
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
45match
#48 - 1st Report - Ukraine: a wake-up call
European countries are coming together to deliver air defences collectively via the European Sky Shield Initiative, in which the previous Government had expressed an interest. We call on the new Government to provide an assessment of the merits of joining the initiative and update us on progress.
Matched on
classifier match