A shortage of contractors is one of the concerns the NAO highlights in a new report on the government’s £49bn maintenance backlog across the public estate.
The public spending watchdog is calling on the government to implement urgent measures to address poor maintenance across key public sector buildings, including hospitals, schools, courts and museums.
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Most of the backlog concerns properties managed by the Ministry of Defence, the NHS and schools, which together constitute 88% of the total.
NAO calculates that the remediation backlog has increased steadily in recent years and is now at least £49bn – amounting to £710 per UK resident – but the Office of Government Property believes it could be substantially higher.
Around 5,400 clinical service incidents occurred in the NHS every year on average between 2019-20 and 2023-24 due to property and infrastructure failures.
Unsuitable contractors
The report said the shortage of qualified property professionals is impacting some central government departments to act as “intelligent clients” and articulate the specifications for the work required. This, in turn, can lead to contractors not delivering value for money.
Government property professionals told NAO there are few credible contractors for some types of maintenance. Sometimes, only one compliant bid is received, which needs to be accepted to get a property maintained.
NAO attributes the low bid volume and the government appointing unsuitable contractors to poorly designed requirements and sourcing.
Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: “Allowing large maintenance backlogs to build up at the buildings used to deliver essential public services is a false economy.
“Government needs better data on the condition of its operational assets and should use it to plan efficient maintenance programmes to deliver better services and value for money.”
