Construction project delays have doubled since the beginning of the pandemic. Why?

Construction project delays have doubled since the beginning of the pandemic. Why?

New data shows that landscaping construction project delays have doubled since the start of the pandemic.

Cost and time overruns have long been a harsh reality in construction, and new data indicates they are a growing problem. Research by nPlan released this year shows that the approximate average pre-pandemic project delay of 100 days has now doubled to a new approximate average of 200 days.

KPMG‘s pre-pandemic report picked out several factors to project overruns, as listed below. However, since the pandemic the industry faces new issues, with staff absences due to isolation and materials delays being some of the major culprits.

Pre-pandemic project overrun factors:

• Poor allocation of time and resources
• Lack of foresight
• Poor communication/opposing stakeholder and competitor views
• The scope of the project takes a different path
• Materials and equipment overspend/failure

Post pandemic new project overrun factors:

• Prolonged working practices due to distancing requirements.
• Team absences to isolating.
• Material shortages.
• Delivery delays.

Regardless of factor however, an underlying common root is failure to clearly communicate what is required at each stage of the project. These issues begin long before teams arrive on site.

Why experience counts

Over three decades working in landscaping construction has taught our teams that we hold responsibility to fully understand client expectations. As well as this, we need to understand every aspect of a project’s requirements.

Only by doing so, can we pre-empt problems and truly add value.

It is no longer enough for suppliers to be knowledgeable about their own business, as that risks a “silo” approach, where critical issues can be missed.

Developers want a team on board that understands each step required and how to make proactive suggestions so that a project remains on track.

Valley Provincial invests in detailed planning and site coordination.

We are in regular contact with suppliers to understand material constraints and turn around times to ensure our delivery schedules are met. Our team’s in-depth knowledge of products allows us to suggest the best options for the clients needs, timeframes and money.

Whilst time and money in landscaping construction are always at risk, the last 30 years taught us experience is essential to mitigate loss.

It is what we mean when we talk about a complete service from initial conversation to final sign-off. We design our approach to work for you.