IPA Annual Report on Major Projects 2020-21
Summary
The Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) ensures robust oversight of the government’s most complex and strategically significant projects and programmes. The GMPP comprises the largest, most innovative and highest risk projects and programmes delivered by the government. GMPP projects are typically those where approval is required from HMT, either because the budget exceeds a department’s delegated authority level and/or because the project is novel, complex, contentious, or requires primary legislation. While the GMPP spans many of the government’s most high-profile projects, it represents a subset of the projects delivered across government.
Projects on the GMPP receive independent scrutiny and assurance from the IPA. Expert teams in the IPA also give specialist project delivery, commercial and financial advice, provide practical tools and make specific recommendations to help improve the chance of successful delivery. Projects on the GMPP are required to provide quarterly data returns on delivery progress. This data is used to monitor progress across the portfolio and risks and insights are shared with departments and the centre of government. This year’s GMPP snapshot comprises 184 projects with a total Whole Life Cost (WLC) of £542bn and £826bn of monetised benefits that are delivered by 18 departments and their arm’s length bodies.