{
  "query": "UK construction cost and schedule overrun benchmarks 2025 2026 NEC contracts",
  "claims": [
    {
      "claim": "In late 2025, prelims allowances in winning bids were reported to be up 6% to 8% year-on-year.",
      "verbatim_quote": "BCIS, late 2025: prelims allowances in winning bids up 6% to 8% YoY",
      "source_url": "https://archdesk.com/blog/2026-state-of-the-uk-construction-industry",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Most losses in the London market are attributed to prelims overruns caused by access, logistics, and supervision rather than labour overruns.",
      "verbatim_quote": "Most London losses are not “labour overruns”. They are prelims overruns caused by access, logistics, and supervision that were never priced as a plan.",
      "source_url": "https://archdesk.com/blog/2026-state-of-the-uk-construction-industry",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Typical prelims share for projects valued between £5m and £20m is benchmarked at 12% to 16%.",
      "verbatim_quote": "12%–16% Typical prelims share on £5m–£20m jobs (RICS Contracts in Use, 2024)",
      "source_url": "https://archdesk.com/blog/2026-state-of-the-uk-construction-industry",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Complex fit-out and structural packages in 2025 show a market norm of 18% for prelims.",
      "verbatim_quote": "18% Prelims seen on complex fit-out and structural packages (2025 market norm in bid reviews)",
      "source_url": "https://archdesk.com/blog/2026-state-of-the-uk-construction-industry",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Typical lead times for structural steel and curtain walling are benchmarked at 14 to 18 weeks as of Q4 2025, which can drive schedule overruns if not qualified in tenders.",
      "verbatim_quote": "14–18 wks Typical lead times for structural steel and curtain walling (BCIS, Q4 2025)",
      "source_url": "https://archdesk.com/blog/2026-state-of-the-uk-construction-industry",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) states that NEC contracts reduce the risk of overspend and project delays through collaboration and project management principles.",
      "verbatim_quote": "According to the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), NEC contracts “encourage collaboration and sound project management principles,” which reduces the risk of overspend and project delays.",
      "source_url": "https://tcc-uk.com/what-every-contractor-should-know-about-nec-contracts-in-2025/",
      "relevance": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "market_context": "- [HIGH] In late 2025, prelims allowances in winning bids were reported to be up 6% to 8% year-on-year. (source: https://archdesk.com/blog/2026-state-of-the-uk-construction-industry)\n- [HIGH] Most losses in the London market are attributed to prelims overruns caused by access, logistics, and supervision rather than labour overruns. (source: https://archdesk.com/blog/2026-state-of-the-uk-construction-industry)\n- [HIGH] Typical prelims share for projects valued between £5m and £20m is benchmarked at 12% to 16%. (source: https://archdesk.com/blog/2026-state-of-the-uk-construction-industry)\n- [HIGH] Complex fit-out and structural packages in 2025 show a market norm of 18% for prelims. (source: https://archdesk.com/blog/2026-state-of-the-uk-construction-industry)\n- [HIGH] Typical lead times for structural steel and curtain walling are benchmarked at 14 to 18 weeks as of Q4 2025, which can drive schedule overruns if not qualified in tenders. (source: https://archdesk.com/blog/2026-state-of-the-uk-construction-industry)\n- [MEDIUM] The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) states that NEC contracts reduce the risk of overspend and project delays through collaboration and project management principles. (source: https://tcc-uk.com/what-every-contractor-should-know-about-nec-contracts-in-2025/)"
}