Providers of public sector infrastructure including roads should follow closely the examples of last summer’s Olympic Games and ongoing work to build Crossrail, the Government has said.

HM Treasury published guidance this week which urges providers of public infrastructure to better budget and manage their projects. It holds the Olympics and Crossrail up as examples of what can be achieved through good planning.

The guidance also sets out how project risks should be estimated and how contingency funds could be managed more effectively.

Publication of the guidance follows the launch last month of a joint report between Government and the Industry Risk Group which is linked to Infrastructure UK, that aims to improve project delivery and achieve efficiency savings of at least 15 per cent by 2015.

Commercial Secretary to the Treasury Lord Deighton said: “If we want a modern, competitive economy we have to invest in our infrastructure and we have to make sure we get the best deal for the public when we do so.

“We have learned from world leading projects like the Olympics and Crossrail that better planning reduces costs and makes projects more efficient. Under the new guidance project leaders will be encouraged to manage their funds much more actively, and focus on getting the biggest bang for their buck.”

Photo: Sludgegulper

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