Major Government Projects Show Strong Delivery Foundations

The majority of the UK government’s largest and most strategically important projects are on track for delivery, according to new analysis from the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), which says stronger oversight and earlier intervention are improving confidence across the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP).

Published today (13 July), NISTA’s Major Projects Annual Report 2025–26 provides a snapshot of the performance of government programmes between April 2025 and March 2026, before a major overhaul of the portfolio that came into effect in April this year.

The report finds that most projects were assessed as either Green or Amber, indicating they are either on track or remain deliverable with effective management. At the end of the reporting period, 29 projects (15%) were rated Green and 109 projects (58%) Amber, while 34 projects (18%) were rated Red. A further 17 projects (9%) were exempt from receiving a delivery confidence assessment. The findings come ahead of the government’s decision to streamline the portfolio from almost 190 programmes to a more focused list of 81 nationally significant projects, a move designed to sharpen oversight of the schemes considered most critical to delivering the UK’s long-term infrastructure ambitions.

The Government Major Projects Portfolio brings together the public sector’s most complex, innovative and high-value programmes, spanning transport, defence, health, digital transformation and energy. The projects are central to delivering the government’s 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy and wider plans to modernise public services and strengthen economic growth.

While the majority of projects remain on course, NISTA acknowledged that the most ambitious and technically challenging programmes continue to face delivery pressures. Rather than signalling failure, officials say Red-rated projects are now receiving more intensive support aimed at resolving issues before they escalate further. The report highlights encouraging signs of improvement across the portfolio. Since the previous annual report, published in August 2025, 18 projects have improved from Amber to Green, while one programme moved directly from Red to Green following sustained intervention.

Forty-two projects exited the portfolio during the reporting year. Of these, 26 successfully completed their objectives, including DEFRA’s Biosecurity, Borders and Trade Programme, the Department of Health and Social Care’s Digitising Social Care programme and the Ministry of Justice’s Drug Testing Services programme. Eight projects left because they no longer met the criteria for inclusion, one was replaced by successor programmes and seven were closed early.

Most completed programmes also exited with positive delivery assessments, with 17 leaving the portfolio on a Green rating and 21 on Amber. The report also marks a significant evolution in how government monitors its largest investments. For the first time, NISTA has introduced a new “mega project” category for programmes with whole-life costs typically exceeding £10bn and delivery timescales stretching across multiple parliaments. The initial projects awarded the designation are Sizewell C, HS2 and the Dreadnought nuclear submarine programme.

Alongside the new classification, NISTA has expanded its use of data and artificial intelligence to improve delivery assurance. Its new Early Warning System analyses existing project data to identify programmes showing signs of deteriorating performance before they move into the highest risk category. The AI-powered tool is being incorporated into routine assurance reviews and is intended to give departments earlier opportunities to intervene, reducing the likelihood of costly delays or overruns.

Projects that remain outside the streamlined portfolio but still require Treasury approval will continue to receive oversight through strengthened departmental major project portfolios, ensuring governance remains in place across government. The latest report suggests that while delivering some of the country’s most complex infrastructure programmes remains challenging, government is placing increasing emphasis on identifying risks earlier, strengthening accountability and providing targeted support where it is needed most – steps that NISTA believes will improve delivery confidence as the new, more focused portfolio takes shape.

Lucy Rigby MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said:
“This Government is building a stronger culture of delivery – raising standards, strengthening capability, and using the power of digital and AI to secure the infrastructure and public services the UK deserves. Major projects were for too long associated with spiralling costs, endless complexity and delays. Through our 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy published last year, this Government committed to changing that. When projects come up against delivery risks the onus is on Government to act swiftly and decisively to keep things on track.”

Becky Wood, Chief Executive of NISTA, said:
“Delivering some of the Government’s most ambitious and complex programmes is never easy, so it is expected that projects will face different challenges and perform differently at various stages of delivery. These assessments should not be seen as a definitive judgement on whether a project will ultimately succeed or fail. Instead, they provide an early warning, helping us identify risks sooner, understand where pressures are emerging, and work with departments to address issues before they become more serious. By making better use of performance data, strengthening independent assurance, and providing access to expert advice, NISTA can help ensure that project teams receive the right support at the right time – improving the likelihood that major government programmes are delivered successfully for the public.”