The GMPP is a list of the most complex, high risk, and strategically significant infrastructure projects, and today, reforms have been announced.
Reforms to the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) are part of NISTA’s increasing importance in supporting infrastructure delivery.
From April, the list will contain only around 80 projects, allowing for more targeted support of those projects, and cutting around 120 projects.
Projects must meet new criteria to be included
The criteria to be a part of the GMPP are in the Treasury Approval Process, but must also meet some other key requirements, including supporting a top government priority, having whole-life costs exceeding £1bn, and being a project that would benefit most from focused central support and scrutiny.
Emphasis has been placed on how the projects leaving the list will be treated, with the announcement stating: “If a project leaves the GMPP this does not mean it has become less important or less of a priority, and departments will continue to lead delivery, drawing on tools and guidance still provided through NISTA as well as insights drawn from data.”
Chief secretary to the Treasury, James Murray, said: “For too long, projects have been run through overly complex systems that slow decisions down and blur accountability.
“Refocusing the GMPP means we can direct specialist expertise to the most complex, high-risk and strategically relevant projects – so that we deliver faster, improve value for money, and strengthen public services in ways people will feel.
“Our Plan for Growth is about building a stronger UK – unlocking investment and opportunity across every nation and region and delivering modern infrastructure and better public services.”
A definition of Mega Projects has also been determined
The announcement has made clear that the cut down list is not definitive, and more a result of new definitions, and maintains that projects can be added to the GMPP if they do not meet all of the criteria as long as it is a project of particular strategic importance, i.e. they are extremely high risk or underpin critical national infrastructure, and NISTA support will be required.
A definition of a ‘mega project’ has also been added to help define list items more easily, being programmes with “transformational” economic, societal, or national security impacts that have a whole-life cost exceeding £10bn and a delivery period of 10 years or more.
Chief executive of NISTA, Becky Wood, said: “Delivering the government’s priorities is underpinned by strong delivery right across the project system. These reforms simplify oversight, sharpen responsibility in departments, and focus expert support where it will have the greatest impact.
“Refocussing our GMPP means that NISTA can provide more targeted and agile support as national priorities evolve and risks change. We will also be working more closely with those projects at the earliest stages that are likely to be nationally critical, ensuring projects can be set up to succeed from the outset.
“We continue to support departments with clear standards, practical tools, high quality training and shared learning – ensuring teams across government have what they need to deliver successfully.”
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