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Government 'on track' to cut cost of infrastructure delivery
Wed 25 Apr 2012
The government's efforts to reduce the cost of delivering infrastructure projects are proceeding as planned, a new report has stated.
According to the Treasury, £1.5 billion of possible savings have already been identified.
These, it said, can be brought about by procedural improvements and changes to behaviour, particularly when it comes to areas such as procurement.
Developing closer links between the public and private sectors has also yielded results, which commercial secretary to the Treasury Lord Sassoon believes is "particularly encouraging".
Indeed, he said the collaboration between both groups in recent months has been "close and fruitful".
This means the government is on track to meet its pledge to cut the annual cost of infrastructure delivery by £2 billion to £3 billion by 2015.
Lord Sassoon said every pound that is saved can go towards creating new infrastructure developments in the future.
He added that ensuring taxpayers get good value for money when projects are being devised and carried out is "vitally important".
Richard Bull, senior solicitor in Winckworth Sherwood's Parliamentary unit, commented: "The report is welcome, although making the £1.5 possible savings into a reality will still be a challenge. But the limited, but real evidence of a cultural shift in Whitehall's approach towards delivery augurs well."
