{"id":57194,"date":"2019-05-17T16:19:39","date_gmt":"2019-05-17T15:19:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=57194"},"modified":"2019-05-20T07:37:32","modified_gmt":"2019-05-20T06:37:32","slug":"major-infrastructure-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/planning-construction-news\/major-infrastructure-projects\/57194\/","title":{"rendered":"ICE report: More focus on benefits of major infrastructure projects"},"content":{"rendered":"

More focus should be placed on the benefits of major infrastructure projects and less on cost, a report by the Institution of Civil Engineers has said<\/span><\/h2>\n

The report looks at how the built environment sector<\/a> can reduce the gap between cost estimates and outturns for major infrastructure projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

ICE\u2019s investigation into infrastructure forecasting shows, globally, that it\u2019s incredibly difficult to forecast time and cost for major projects due to there being many unforeseen issues that can arise during delivery.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite these uncertainties, the ultimate measure of success continues to be initial cost forecasts. The Institution recommended that the success measures for projects should shift from an over-focus on costs towards whole-life benefit. The survey data illustrates support from the general public for such a move.<\/span><\/p>\n

Miles Ashley, chair of the report\u2019s steering group, said: \u201cInfrastructure is a vital part of\u202fsociety,\u202fwith major assets\u202fhelping to stimulate economic growth, improve health and well-being of the population and protect communities from the effects of extreme weather and climate change<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot continue to dismiss from the conversation these\u202fimportant\u202fbenefits. Industry and government need to work smarter,\u202ffind ways to reduce the disparity between forecasts and outturns, but also to change the narrative and ensure\u202fthe wider public, the end users, are also aware of the whole-life benefits these incredible infrastructure projects are bringing to them.\u201d\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n

Public support<\/span><\/h3>\n

There is public support for the recommendations, with nearly three quarters (74%) of adults agreeing that politicians should\u202ftalk to the public\u202fmore\u202fabout\u202fthe benefits\u202fmajor infrastructure\u202fprojects bring, rather than\u202fthe\u202fcosts.<\/span><\/p>\n

The survey, conducted by YouGov<\/a>, also found that only 3% of adults feel that\u202fa\u202flow\u202foverall\u202fcost\u202fof construction\u202fshould be the\u202fmost important\u202fmeasure of success of major infrastructure projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

ICE asked adults across Great Britain what they considered most important in deciding the success of major infrastructure projects:<\/span><\/h4>\n