A.48 A number of respondents to the call for evidence expressed the view that soft services should be excluded from any future model. The respondents highlighted that this approach would increase the flexibility of projects by making it easier to change service requirements without the need for complex contractual variation. It was also considered this approach would provide better value for money. Some of these respondents did, however, highlight that the exclusion of soft services may lead to interface risks and that this would need to be managed effectively. Some respondents suggested that the exclusion of soft services could increase institutional investors appetite in these projects.
A.49 Those respondents who favoured the inclusion of soft services in any future model considered the benefits of this to be improved asset design, greater innovation and reduced costs over the life of the project. Some respondents expressed the view that the inclusion of soft services to be beneficial only in projects from particular sectors due to the integrity of the services in operational delivery and the example of the prisons sector was raised.
A.50 Some respondents considered that the decision around the inclusion of soft services should be considered on a case by case basis.