National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA)
Role
Created Autumn 2024 by merging the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA). Oversees the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) and the National Infrastructure Pipeline. Spans economic and social infrastructure, service transformation, defence, and digital projects. Reports to HM Treasury.
Strategies owned
- 10yr-infrastructure-strategy — Co-published with HMT; pipeline management
Outcomes accountable for
- Portfolio delivery confidence across 213 GMPP projects (£996bn whole life cost)
- Infrastructure pipeline publication (780 projects)
Key data (March 2025)
| Rating | Projects | % | Whole Life Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green | 30 | 14% | — |
| Amber | 135 | 63% | — |
| Red | 31 | 15% | £198bn |
| Exempt | 17 | 8% | — |
Red-rated count rose from 27 to 31 between 2023-24 and 2024-25. Average project cost rose from £4.0bn to £4.4bn.
Top departments by portfolio: MOD (47 projects), Home Office (21), DESNZ (20), DfT (19).
Relationships
- Reports to HMT
- Works with all major departments on project oversight
- Replaced NIC (National Infrastructure Commission) and IPA (Infrastructure and Projects Authority) — both absorbed into NISTA on creation
Tensions
- delivery-confidence-fiscal-ambition — NISTA’s own data shows rising red-rated projects and cost growth, while government fiscal plans assume efficient £725bn infrastructure delivery