Infrastructure set to drive civils workload growth

Infrastructure work will drive future growth in civil engineering workload.

Glenigan figures show that after a flat period this year, there will be a 15% surge in the underlying value of civil engineering project starts (work worth up to £100 million) in 2027.

Glenigan economics director Allan Wilén comments: “Activity will remain constrained by delivery lags this year. A stronger recovery is forecast in 2027, with output rising by 15% as major infrastructure and utilities projects move into construction. Activity is expected to be sustained at this higher level in 2028.”

Transport infrastructure is forecast to strengthen from 2027. This will be supported by Spending Review funding for road maintenance and rail upgrades, including major programmes such as the completion of the HS2 rail link (Project ID: 07309143) and the £1.3 billion TransPennine Route Upgrade in Cumbria (Project ID: 17343745).

Water works flowing

Ofwat’s investment programme from 2025–2030 will produce £104 billion in spending (Project ID: 19438055) and buoy the utilities sector, which will be a key driver of growth.

Water utilities have set up long-term agreements to coordinate spending through the AMP8 investment plan, such as Northumbrian Water’s £3.6 billion framework (Project ID: 23130903), and Yorkshire Water’s £1.3 billion Stormwater Alliance (Project ID: 23153136).

In some cases, water utilities have set up agreements that will also include spending in the next round, AMP9. Examples include Thames Water’s Major Projects Framework (Project ID: 25437009) and Affinity Water’s £1 billion Capital Works Framework (Project ID: 23320546).

 Power plans

Work from major ongoing nuclear projects, such as the £38 billion Sizewell C (Project ID: 01611111) and the £48 billion Hinkley Point C (Project ID: 01611123), is also expected to help sustain workload at this higher level.

There will also be continued investment in electricity generation and transmission to meet net-zero targets. This includes major programmes of work at an underlying level.

Data compiled by Glenigan shows 86 electricity substation and battery storage schemes with planning permission and due to start on site in the next 12 months.

Work coming up ranges from a £1 billion substation at Turiff in Scotland for Scottish & Southern Energy (Project ID: 24031983) to a £100 million battery energy storage system at Wilsden in West Yorkshire for NetZero 2023 (Project ID: 24289687).

Renewable energy developments at an underlying level will also boost work. Glenigan data indicates 51 onshore and offshore approved schemes at an underlying level and due to start in the next year.

Examples include the £22.5 million Cold Northcott Wind Farm in Cornwall (Project ID: 21209560) and the £28 million Twyn Hywel Wind Farm in Mid Glamorgan (Project ID: 21383427). Work is due to begin on both schemes in November.

Top civil contractors

Worley Europe won the largest amount of civil engineering work in the 12 months to the end of May 2026 after securing the works for the £500 million H2East Humber to Nottinghamshire gas transporter pipeline (Project ID: 26148210).

Infrastructure works also bolstered the order books at other contractors in the Top 10, such as Kier, whose work ranges from a £9.5 million package of enabling works at Blackburn Wastewater Treatment Works (Project ID: 26206567) to a £70 million bus interchange at Sizewell C (Project ID: 25174603).

Top 10 Civil Engineering Contractors

Buoyant civil future

With a swathe of infrastructure and utilities work coming up, the civil engineering sector can expect a buoyant period in 2027.