Blog

Developed by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (Nista), the online tool offers a forward-looking overview of major capital infrastructure schemes valued above £25M in economic infrastructure sectors such as transport, energy and utilities, as well as those above £15M in education, health, social care and justice.

The initial release includes 773 projects and programmes, representing an estimated £531bn of investment through to 2034, with government funding constituting around £285bn of this total (in 2024/25 prices).

Users on the interactive website can filter by sector, sub-sector, scheme status, funding source and status of spend in 25-26 – then use “advanced filters” to hone the search further. Details provided include a heatmap of where the investment will be focused and a graph showing expenditure profile over the next decade.

Some granular details about specific spend on projects are still to be added, but the Treasury promises that they will. “Funding that’s been allocated to Departments in their Spending Review settlements […] has not yet been itemised, and that’s essentially just because Departments still have to go through some business planning in order to provide the data in the way that we need it,” chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones explained.

Projects are still being updated, too. Currently regional projects from the Mayoral Combined Authorities are included as a lump sum showing their settlements from government, but the Treasury is working with the Comvbined Authorities to upload details about their individual projects in the near future.

The Infrastructure Pipeline is intended to support the delivery of the government’s 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy, which aims to improve connectivity, create jobs, support public services, and enhance resilience amid changing economic and environmental conditions. By consolidating data from 40 public bodies, regulated businesses, and government departments, the Pipeline provides construction and investment sectors with greater transparency on future demand, allowing for better planning and capacity development across the supply chain.

While the Pipeline does not signal new policy or project commitments, it reflects current government spending outlines as set out in recent Spending Reviews and regulatory frameworks. It serves as a dynamic repository, with updates scheduled every six months to enhance data completeness and usability.

Notably, the Pipeline currently captures 40% of the total £725bn investment envisioned in the broader 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy, with this figure expected to rise as more project details become available.

The largest share of planned investment lies in the energy sector (37%), followed by health and social care (17%), transport (14%) and water and wastewater infrastructure (13%). Projects such as the Sizewell C nuclear power station, High Speed 2’s (HS2’s) Euston station development and the Lower Thames Crossing feature as major schemes incorporating a blend of public and private funding.

“The key difference is what the last government published was essentially a wish list,” Jones said. “This was all the things they wanted to get done at some point in the future, but they hadn’t committed the money to it; basically, they hadn’t got to a business case stage.

“All of the data that’s on this website is for projects that we have committed to, so there’s no question about whether it’s going to happen or not. That was a really important piece of feedback from the businesses we engaged with when building it. They didn’t want things on this pipeline where we might change our mind or it might never happen, because that wouldn’t be very useful to them for their planning purposes.”

Breakdown of project in the Infrastructure Pipeline, by sector:

Regional investment is marked to be substantial across the UK, although data coverage gaps currently limit detailed analysis of regional distribution. The Pipeline includes fewer projects from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, reflecting devolved infrastructure responsibilities. Efforts are underway to better integrate devolved administrations’ plans with the UK-wide Pipeline over time.

Industry stakeholders contributed to the development of the interactive online tool, which includes a downloadable spreadsheet with project spending estimates, status updates and projected completion dates. Nista is actively seeking feedback to refine the Pipeline’s accuracy and usefulness, with future enhancements expected to address skills and workforce planning needs in the infrastructure sector.

By offering greater visibility over a decade of infrastructure investment, the government hopes this initiative will drive increased private sector confidence and support the delivery of critical projects that underpin economic growth and public services across the UK.

Commentary

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones MP said: “Last month, I set out a comprehensive ten-year strategy to restore confidence in the UK’s capacity to provide the infrastructure we need to renew Britain.

“Delivering that ambition will require support from the private sector to invest in the jobs and training opportunities workers need to help us rebuild the country.

“This pipeline brings industry on that journey with us – by giving business leaders and investors confidence about future work and therefore the confidence to invest in their workforce.

“By providing a more consistent picture of significant infrastructure investments planned by both government and the private sector, the pipeline also aims to improve the quality of policy making, spending decisions and the delivery of major projects – replacing the previously erratic and uncoordinated nature of infrastructure planning with a more certain picture.

“This is backed by a new online pipeline tool allowing users to see the national and regional picture of planned investments by both the government and private sector in real time. As well as providing details of individual projects, users will also be able to look at the full range of planned investments.

“The pipeline will managed by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority and updated on a regular basis.”

Nista chief executive officer Becky Wood said: “We’ve listened to a wide range of voices to ensure this pipeline is designed to give the infrastructure sector the information and insights needed to plan with confidence and to build the skills, workforce and supply chains required.

“Nista is committed to working with investors, operators and construction firms on future iterations to ensure the pipeline is where private and public sector partners will stand firmly behind a shared ambition to do things better.”

CBI chief policy and campaigns officer John Foster said: “A dynamic, forward-looking infrastructure pipeline is exactly what business needs to plan, invest, and build with confidence. This announcement responds to long-standing calls from industry and sends a strong signal that government is serious about long-term infrastructure planning. Greater clarity and certainty on upcoming projects will unlock investment in nationally significant schemes, strengthen supply chains, and support high-value jobs across the UK.”

Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) director of policy and external affairs Sam Gould: “The ICE has promoted the importance of an up-to-date, credible project pipeline for some time, so Nista’s publication of the new Infrastructure Pipeline is a welcome step forward.

“Having an agreed list of projects provides essential clarity for the industry to plan – not just for delivery, but to enable better workforce planning and attract necessary finance.

“The commitment from Nista to regularly update the Pipeline with insights and data from across industry is also positive, and the ICE looks forward to working with NISTA to refine and develop this Pipeline.

“This joined-up, systematic approach is what’s needed to plan for and deliver the infrastructure the UK needs.”

Mace executive chair and co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council and co-chair of the Construction Skills Mission Board Mark Reynolds said: “The construction industry cannot invest in new skills, capacity and technology without clarity on our future workload. The government’s pipeline plays a critical role in allowing us to scale up to deliver 1.5M new homes and a revitalisation of our national infrastructure.

“Nista’s new dynamic approach is a major step forward; and the inclusion of employment data will make a significant difference to firms across the country as they plan for the next few years of growth. The Construction Skills Mission Board will be working with our members from government, industry, training bodies, the devolved authorities and the unions to build the skilled workforce we need to realise the ambitious plans laid out in the pipeline.”

Balfour Beatty Group chief executive Leo Quinn said: “The new Infrastructure Pipeline is a big step forward, giving industry the clarity and confidence to invest in skills, grow capability and deliver sustainable, digital solutions. It’s what Balfour Beatty has been calling for: funded schemes, greater detail and transparency, and real-time updates to support business planning. The challenge now is keeping up momentum and making it a trusted tool for long-term UK infrastructure planning.”

Build UK chief executive Suzannah Nichol: “The new Infrastructure Pipeline is another step towards much needed visibility and stability for the construction supply chain and private sector investors. This dynamic approach showing a clear and updated pipeline of work will give our members more confidence to invest in the skills, resources and technology required to deliver and maintain the social and economic infrastructure we all rely on.

“Build UK is committed to working with the Treasury and Nista to ensure the pipeline is an effective tool, supporting improved performance and productivity and driving economic growth.”

Global Infrastructure Investor Association chief executive Jon Phillips said: “This is a positive step towards strengthening the UK’s appeal as a destination for private finance of critical infrastructure.

“Global investors will value a clear pipeline of projects that shows the full scope of the UK’s investment potential.

“We look forward to working closely with the government to ensure the pipeline meets investors’ needs and has the greatest possible impact on UK economic growth.”

Civil Engineering Contractors Association (Ceca) spokesperson and Ceca Southern executive director David Allen said: “The long-term certainty provided by the pipeline published today – and the ease of access that the online tool provides – will boost the infrastructure sector’s delivery capacity, at a time when we need the UK economy to be firing on all cylinders.

“CECA members have consistently argued that key to delivering the best results is providing industry with clear visibility of the forward pipeline of investment.

“This is essential to maintaining confidence across our sector, and enables businesses to plan efficiently, invest in skills and innovation, and deliver the economic and social outcomes the UK needs.”

Like what you’ve read? To receive New Civil Engineer’s daily and weekly newsletters click here.