How to engage with the CMA's civil engineering market study

The CMA has launched a study into the design, planning and delivery of railway and public road infrastructure by the civil engineering sector.

We will look at:

• how the market works
• how well it performs for businesses and the public
• how it could work better

We propose to focus on how the public sector and industry can work together to best deliver large and complex infrastructure projects in the future.

We are looking at this market because the infrastructure it delivers is important to the UK economy. If working well, it could boost economic growth.

How the market study will work

Image description: The main stages of our civil engineering market study, as described in the paragraphs below.

Below we outline what you can expect to happen at each stage of the market study, and how you can engage with us. We have included all of the steps we expect to take in this market study.

The dates are included as a guide and may be updated.

We will update this page throughout the market study, and you can subscribe to get emails when we update it (select the button at the top of the page).

Launch: June 2025

On 19 June 2025 we launched the market study, which we expect to last for 10 months.

We published a statement of scope, which:

• sets out the purpose and proposed scope of the market study
• provides an overview of the sector and the themes we propose to explore
• outlines our intended approach to evidence-gathering

We invited views on the purpose and proposed scope of the market study, through questions in the statement of scope document. The deadline for responses was 17 July 2025.

We have also published a market study notice, which sets out the legal scope of the study.

Webinar: Introduction to our civil engineering market study

We also held a webinar to give stakeholders an overview of the study’s purpose and proposed scope, and an opportunity to ask any questions. We’ll continue to engage with stakeholders throughout the market study.

Introduction to our civil engineering market study

• Introduction to our civil engineering market study: webinar slides (PDF, 251 KB, 9 pages)

Other ways to engage

If you have specific questions about the market study, email civilengineering@cma.gov.uk. We will aim either to reply by email, set up a call or update the civil engineering market study case page with more information.

Evidence gathering and analysis: June to November 2025

We willare gathergathering evidence from civil engineering businesses, local authorities, procuring bodies and regulators. This will help us to identify any issues in the market and areas for potential improvement.improvement. 

WeActivities propose to:include: 

• gatherhosting informationroundtables fromand themeetings mainwith industrycivil stakeholdersengineering –businesses, wetrade mightassociations, usepublic ourauthorities legaland powersother stakeholders 
• receiving and publishing responses to requestour someinvitation informationto formallycomment
• commissioning (wequalitative mightresearch alsofrom inviteJigsaw feedbackResearch, onwho thewill questionsengage wedirectly proposewith tocivil ask)engineering businesses 
• sendappointing informala questionnairespanel (likeof shortadvisors, onlinebringing surveys)together both the supply and demand side of the sector to importantprovide marketinput participantsas we develop our thinking 
• holdcollecting roundtablesinformation orfrom meetingsthe withmain civil engineering businesses,businesses tradeand associations, public authorities andincluding otherby stakeholdersusing formal requests 
• commissionselecting qualitativecase researchstudies from thirdacross parties,the whonations willand engageregions directlyof with the industryUK reflecting different outcomes  
• analyseanalysing available market data onthrough thedesk-based market,research 
• sending throughinformal desk-basedquestionnaires, researchsuch as brief online surveys to key market participants 

WeCollaboration willis also workongoing closely with the UK government and devolved governments, to understand theapplicable legal and policy frameworks.

Consultation on emerging thinking and remedies (if any): December 2025 to February 2026

Interim report

In November, we will publish an interim report to set out our emerging findings.

If needed, this will include any areas for potential recommendation to government and public authorities.

We will consult with businesses, public authorities, UK government, and devolved governments that could be affected. This could be through a public consultation (as part of the interim report) and separate workshops.

By responding to our consultation, you’ll have an opportunity to share your views on our provisional findings and proposed outcomes.

Finishing our evidence gathering

After our interim report, we will think about what more evidence we need to finalise our findings and any potential recommendations.

We might send more requests for information, or meet with more civil engineering businesses, local authorities, procuring bodies and regulators.

Final report: March to April 2026

We will publish our final report that sets out our conclusions about the market, and any remedies such as recommendations to government and public authorities.