Virus ‘will hit project delivery spend’

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority has asked the DfT to support revised timetables for project delivery because of  Covid-19. “It is very likely that [capital] spend for 2020/21 will be lower than was originally expected,” said Craig Taylor, WYCA’s head of portfolio management office, in a report to councillors last week. He said the combined authority and member councils were actually exploring if some road traffic projects could be accelerated, to take advantage of the low traffic levels. Many projects were, however, likely to be delayed because of a lack of materials, said Taylor. In addition, “a number of projects are currently being tendered and there are reports of contractors not willing to tender in the current climate”. Some projects were also likely to be delayed because their progress depends on public consultation that cannot currently take place.