To drive better, faster and greener delivery in future projects and programmes, we need to collect systematic and robust data to understand what went well and where we can improve. All projects and programmes should submit out-turn cost, schedule and GHG emissions data to the IPA benchmarking hub.
Evaluation should focus both on whether a project or programme has delivered the construction phase successfully and into operation. For example, a building may have been completed on schedule and to budget but it is also important to evaluate whether it meets the requirements of the end user through operation and the wider impacts of the project. This should be linked back to the outcomes set out in the Project Scorecard.
For infrastructure projects and programmes on the GMPP, as set out in the National Infrastructure Strategy, there is a new requirement from April 2021 to publish a close out report within 6 months of completion. This will report on out-turn cost and schedule and identify best practice and lessons learned to apply to future projects. These projects will also be required to publish an evaluation of their long-term economic and social benefits between 5 and 10 years into operation. This will enable contracting authorities to compare performance and outcomes to priorities and metrics agreed in the business case and, in future, set out in Project Scorecard.