Construction Productivity Taskforce publishes new paper showcasing practical insights from pilot projects

The Construction Productivity Taskforce (CPT) has released a new paper - Improving Construction Productivity: Practical Insights from Pilot Site Studies - aimed at helping UK construction teams boost project delivery through smarter planning, digital innovation, and collaborative working.

Developed in partnership with CPT members - including Sir Robert McAlpine, Skanska, Landsec, Mace, Morrisroe and the University of Cambridge - the report draws on lessons from three major pilot projects: 1 Broadgate and Timber Square, London and the Vehicle Storage Support Programme (VSSP) in Tewkesbury.

The findings showcase how data-driven approaches, combined with advanced digital tools and collaborative planning can transform project delivery outcomes.  

The output from these studies is summarised into practical recommendations that can be directly applied to construction projects to enable an increase in productivity. These include:  

• Fostering a culture of trust and open data sharing across the supply chain, underpinned by early engagement and strong commitment from senior leadership
• Deploying digital technologies offering real-time operational visibility of production control and productivity performance, such as using collaborative design and construction planning tools, site access control systems, crane telematics, on-site progress monitoring and other digital tracking technologies
• Accelerate extent of off-site manufacturing, to increase use of pre-manufactured components and reduce dependency of onsite labour that is vulnerable to weather or workforce variability

James Rowbotham, Landsec Head of Workplace Development and Chair of the Construction Productivity Taskforce, commented:  “It is imperative that we all work together as an industry to improve productivity. This requires more data collection, analysis and industry wide collaboration. That is what these three case studies do so effectively, by showcasing innovative construction, an open mind and a willingness to work collaboratively to find improvement. I hope they help and inspire further efforts across the industry to do likewise.” 

At its core, the CPT is united by a shared belief that the UK construction industry can and must adopt better working practices to deliver projects more efficiently, reduce waste, and build a more sustainable and resilient built environment.  

Anthony Impey MBE, CEO of Be the Business, added: "The Construction Productivity Taskforce was created to bring the industry together to tackle one of its toughest challenges - productivity. This latest paper shows what’s possible when leading businesses collaborate, share insights, and apply innovative approaches on real projects.  

“The lessons from 1 Broadgate, Timber Square, and VSSP demonstrate that smarter planning, digital adoption, and stronger supply chain engagement deliver real results. Most importantly, they show that collaboration across the sector drives meaningful impact - unlocking efficiencies, reducing waste, and raising productivity standards."  

Download the executive summary now to explore the findings in detail and discover practical steps your organisation can take to improve productivity.