Understanding construction infrastructure project delays in the UK

Delays in construction infrastructure projects is a global issue, which has continued to affect the effective delivery of projects. Research from other countries has not provided effective solutions to ameliorate this and has not been prioritised in UK compared to other project challenges. The research looks at the contribution of middle-level professionals in managing infrastructure projects which has not been covered in any previous research and explore their management experience in dealing with delays risk before it occurs. The study utilised a qualitative approach with 12 middle management professionals interviewed. The research revealed that communication and coordination, planning, site, and project management are the high-end contributors to delays. Risk associated with people and time factors is now a prominent challenge in managing the project interface resulting from inadequate planning and communication. The insights derived from this will help to change the way projects are managed, ensuring that construction industry moves away from the traditional management practices, old methods, upskill the workforce, and engage qualified professionals to do the job using innovative measures.