Scottish Government admits to further delays on major infrastructure projects

In a letter to the Public Audit Committee last week, the Scottish Government said that high levels of construction inflation in recent years, combined with lower than projected capital grants and additions to the pipeline, have caused delays to its 2021 Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP).

The letter sets out years of further delays on a number of high-profile projects, such as the A9 dualling and HMP Glasgow prison.

The A9 dualling has faced yet more delays over the last year, and the government still cannot confirm when the long-awaited replacement for the Barlinnie Prison will be operational following significant delays and cost overruns.

Several important NHS projects have also been pushed back, including a cancer care centre, a family hospital and new hospital wards.

In total, just under half of the Scottish Government’s major capital projects have been hit by further delays.

Updating the committee on the progress of Major Capital Projects, the report points to inflation as still being “a factor for cost increases within the construction industry”.

“In relation to time delays,” the letter adds, “we are seeing a range of reasons including seasonal constraints on weather-sensitive work, unforeseen construction site difficulties, design reviews, longer commissioning periods, installation issues, health and safety issues and the capacity of supply chains.”

The Scottish Government said it intends to publish a reset infrastructure pipeline in September 2025, which will “provide clarity for parliament, industry, and all other interested stakeholders on what will be delivered within the extended IIP period up to 2026-27”.