Major Projects System Analysis

Overview

Awarded contract following further-competition against the Government Commercial Agency (GCA) RM6309 Management Consultancy Framework Four (MCF4) - Lot 2: Strategy & Policy. The Major Project's pipeline is a c. £50bn programme of 30 Major projects to address long term water supply needs and water and wastewater resilience. The industry has not historically delivered projects of this scale and so existing capabilities in regard to major project and programme delivery across companies, regulators and Defra are low, albeit developing and growing. Political interest in successful delivery is significant, and the Water Delivery Taskforce being established in spring 2025 and chaired by Minister Hardy is a representation of this. The purpose of this work is to create greater clarity and some "top down" definition of core roles and responsibilities across a range of core players in the system (i.e. Defra, Ofwat, RAPID, Companies) and related players (Natural England, Environment Agency, DWI and NISTA). Currently there is a lack of clarity and therefore risk of duplication, inefficiency, tripping over each other, and potential for work to be lead not by those most equipped to undertake it. This also leads to a lack of accountability and weak impact on delivery success. For each part of the system, we need to be clear on their core accountabilities and responsibilities; understand what core skills are therefore required; define how key interfaces will operate - governance, assurance, reporting and ways of working; understand where unique or specialist expertise exists that is critical to success; and ensure the system in the round will function effectively.