Building the
Foundations
Programme Management | NEC Administration | CDM Compliance
Major infrastructure demands rigorous governance, specialist procurement knowledge, and construction-phase management that anticipates the unique risks of civil engineering. Matthews & Roberts provides the programme management and CDM compliance that keeps infrastructure programmes on track — from £500k schemes to £500M+ portfolios.
Where programme complexity meets construction risk
Infrastructure projects operate at the intersection of multiple technical disciplines, regulatory regimes, and stakeholder interests. Ground conditions are uncertain, statutory consents are complex, environmental obligations are stringent, and the consequences of programme failure are measured in millions. Effective infrastructure delivery requires project management teams who understand civil engineering risk, procurement strategy, and the contractual frameworks — particularly NEC — that govern the sector.
£600B+
UK National Infrastructure Pipeline
NEC4
Dominant contract form
75%
Cost overrun on major projects (avg)
CDM
High-risk sector classification
Choosing the right procurement route
The procurement route determines risk allocation, programme, cost certainty, and quality outcomes. Select a route to explore its characteristics.
Traditional (Design-Bid-Build)
Full design completed before contractor appointment. Client retains design control through separate design team. Competitive tendering on complete information delivers price certainty.
Advantages
Considerations
Best for: Heritage infrastructure, water treatment upgrades, bridge refurbishments where design certainty is critical
Risk profile: Design risk retained by client. Construction risk transferred to contractor on fixed-price basis.
Traditional (Design-Bid-Build)
Full design completed before contractor appointment. Client retains design control through separate design team. Competitive tendering on complete information delivers price certainty.
Advantages
Considerations
Best for: Heritage infrastructure, water treatment upgrades, bridge refurbishments where design certainty is critical
Risk profile: Design risk retained by client. Construction risk transferred to contractor on fixed-price basis.
Infrastructure delivery phases
Feasibility & Optioneering
Defining the need, assessing options, and establishing the business case for infrastructure investment. Includes environmental constraints mapping, land referencing, and preliminary cost planning.
Key Deliverables
Feasibility & Optioneering
Defining the need, assessing options, and establishing the business case for infrastructure investment. Includes environmental constraints mapping, land referencing, and preliminary cost planning.
Key Deliverables
Infrastructure delivery services
Programme Management
Strategic programme leadership across multi-project infrastructure portfolios including AMP, CP, and capital investment programmes.
Project Management
Client-side project delivery from feasibility through construction to handover for individual infrastructure schemes.
CDM Advisory & Principal Designer
CDM 2015 compliance for infrastructure projects including confined spaces, working near live services, and complex temporary works.
Contract Administration
NEC3/NEC4 and JCT contract administration including payment certification, compensation events, and dispute avoidance.
Quantity Surveying
Cost management for infrastructure including target cost management, bill of quantities, and final account negotiation.
Quality Assurance
Quality management systems ensuring infrastructure meets specification requirements, statutory standards, and adoption criteria.
Infrastructure risk register
Unforeseen ground conditions
CriticalImpact
Foundation redesign, programme delay, cost escalation
Mitigation
Phased ground investigation with contingency in GI specification
Contaminated land discovery
HighImpact
Remediation costs, environmental permits, disposal levies
Mitigation
Phase I/II desk study and intrusive investigation pre-tender
Flood risk during construction
HighImpact
Work stoppage, temporary works failure, environmental incident
Mitigation
Flood risk assessment, temporary flood defences, seasonal programming
Protected species encountered
HighImpact
Seasonal working restrictions, mitigation licences, programme delay
Mitigation
Preliminary Ecological Appraisal and species surveys during feasibility
Unforeseen ground conditions
CriticalImpact
Foundation redesign, programme delay, cost escalation
Mitigation
Phased ground investigation with contingency in GI specification
Contaminated land discovery
HighImpact
Remediation costs, environmental permits, disposal levies
Mitigation
Phase I/II desk study and intrusive investigation pre-tender
Flood risk during construction
HighImpact
Work stoppage, temporary works failure, environmental incident
Mitigation
Flood risk assessment, temporary flood defences, seasonal programming
Protected species encountered
HighImpact
Seasonal working restrictions, mitigation licences, programme delay
Mitigation
Preliminary Ecological Appraisal and species surveys during feasibility
Infrastructure projects delivered
“Matthews & Roberts managed a complex multi-utility infrastructure programme across five development phases. Their NEC contract administration and programme coordination kept all packages aligned despite challenging ground conditions and statutory diversions.”
Programme Director
Infrastructure Developer, Manchester
“Our flood defence upgrade required working within a live operational environment with significant CDM challenges. Matthews & Roberts provided both Principal Designer services and construction phase management that kept the project safe and compliant throughout.”
Capital Delivery Manager
Water Utility, Yorkshire
Infrastructure project questions
We provide project and programme management across the full spectrum of civil infrastructure — flood defences, water and wastewater treatment, pumping stations, highways and bridges, energy infrastructure, drainage and attenuation, and utility networks. Our experience spans both greenfield construction and refurbishment of existing operational assets.
Yes. We provide full NEC3 and NEC4 contract administration including project manager and supervisor roles. This covers payment certification, compensation event assessment, programme management under clause 31-32, early warning procedures, and dispute avoidance. We also administer JCT and bespoke infrastructure contracts.
Infrastructure projects carry specific CDM risks including working near live services, confined space entry, deep excavations, working over or near water, temporary works in unstable ground, and public interface management. Our Principal Designers develop pre-construction information addressing these sector-specific hazards and ensure designers eliminate or reduce risks through design decisions.
Yes. We have experience supporting water company AMP (Asset Management Period) programmes and Network Rail Control Period frameworks. This includes programme-level governance, portfolio prioritisation, contractor framework management, and regulatory reporting against OFWAT or ORR requirements.
The optimal procurement route depends on project complexity, risk profile, and client capability. We advise on traditional, design and build, ECI (early contractor involvement), target cost, and alliance/framework approaches. For complex infrastructure, ECI under NEC often provides the best balance of contractor input and client control.
Yes. Infrastructure projects frequently involve multiple statutory consultees, landowners, local authorities, and community stakeholders. We develop and implement stakeholder engagement strategies, manage consultation processes, and coordinate with bodies including the Environment Agency, Natural England, Historic England, and statutory undertakers.
Infrastructure construction frequently involves significant temporary works — cofferdams, sheet piling, temporary bridges, dewatering systems, and ground support. We provide temporary works coordination, design review, and inspection regimes in accordance with BS 5975 and the Temporary Works Forum guidance.
We coordinate environmental compliance across planning conditions, Environmental Impact Assessment commitments, environmental permits, and Construction Environmental Management Plans. This includes pollution prevention, waste management, ecological mitigation, noise and vibration monitoring, and water quality protection throughout construction.
Delivering infrastructure?
From flood defences to energy infrastructure, we provide the programme management, CDM advisory, and contract administration that keeps major infrastructure on track.
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