Most construction project delays are caused by grid congestion

The construction industry is suffering from several challenges that are causing delays. But the biggest challenge is the connection to the electricity grid. This is according to the annual Boels Rental Construction Index, which identified the main bottlenecks within the sector. Here are the four biggest causes of delay in construction.

1. Grid congestion as the biggest challenge

Grid congestion is a growing problem for the construction industry. Business parks find it difficult to scale up and a (fast) connection to the power grid is also becoming less and less obvious for new housing estates. And that leads to disruption in construction. A quarter of construction professionals (25%) therefore consider the connection to the power grid to be one of the biggest challenges causing delays. It is expected to take years before a solution to the grid tightness is found. To still meet power needs now, companies would do well to invest in smarter energy management, such as working with batteries or an energy management system (EMS).

2. Changed orders by customer

Not always delays are due to impotence. According to the survey, nearly a third of construction professionals (29%) experience that changes from the client regularly lead to revisions to construction plans and adjustments to schedules. This causes unpredictable project execution and often delays.

3. Shortage of experienced personnel

Experienced personnel are crucial to the construction industry. The lack of them not only hinders project progress, but can also undermine quality and safety, reduce efficiency and lead to higher, unexpected costs. According to a quarter of construction professionals (25%), the shortage of experienced personnel is a major obstacle to the timely execution of projects.

4. Permits and laws and regulations

The administrative burden and complexity of permit applications are also a major stumbling block. Twenty-four percent of respondents indicated that granting permits causes delays in construction projects, and 21 percent said this is due to laws and regulations from the Environment Act.

Other delay factors include unexpected weather conditions (18%), rising costs (18%) and delays in delivery of materials (16%).