What UK Developers Really Need To Know
The new 2026 National Framework for Civil Engineering, Infrastructure and Enabling Works is a game-changer for UK public sector procurement. Replacing not one but two separate national agreements, this £4.15 billion over four years behemoth combines everything from the demolition process right through to delivering heavy civil engineering in one neat package.
Before we get started, a bit of a heads up is needed. You see in everyday life the term ‘enabling’ has a very different meaning to what it does in the construction world. In everyday life, enabling actions are the ones that help people or situations along, but in the context of addiction recovery, enabling someone is basically just turning a blind eye to their self-destructive antics. The goal is to get them to stop enabling and start empowering, to teach them the skills they need to look after themselves and take responsibility for their own lives. All of that is just a world away from the world of construction, where enabling works just means doing all the prep work to get a site ready for the main construction phase to begin. For example, the tech stuff like Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things and 5G is speeding things up in loads of different fields.
If you’re a public sector client, a developer or a construction company, looking to get your head around this new framework, then this article is the place to be. After all whether you’re talking about highways maintenance, regenerating brownfield sites or just generally giving your local infrastructure a bit of a spruce up, being able to procure enabling works effectively is going to be critical.
As it happens the new 2026 framework lines up perfectly with the Procurement Act 2023, which kicked in on Feb 24th 2025 – making it a fully compliant route for civil engineering and enabling works across the whole of the UK.
What Are Enabling Works, Exactly?
In simple terms, enabling works kick off the construction process by getting a site ready to make sure it can handle what’s coming next. This is the work that needs to be done to make a site safe and compliant before the main construction works can begin. From the UK civil engineering point of view, the main goal is to create a safe and accessible platform so that the contractor can get on with the job as quickly and efficiently as possible – and without any nasty surprises along the way.
Unforeseen problems can come up at any point but the key is to manage them proactively so that the project stays on track and all the relevant regulations are met.
What Do You Actually Do In Enabling Works?
The sort of things you might expect to see in enabling works include:
- Demolishing existing buildings and structures
- Getting rid of any debris and vegetation on the site
- Sorting out any asbestos or other hazardous materials
- Doing any bulk earthworks that are needed to get the ground ready
- Soil stabilisation to make sure it can hold its own
- Creating temporary or permanent access routes
- Moving or diverting utilities
- Cleaning up any contaminated land
Enabling works can also involve putting up safety fencing, clearing the ground, building access routes and all the rest to get a site ready for the main construction work.
Enabling Works vs. Groundworks
The distinction between the two is pretty important when it comes to procurement. Enabling works gets a site ready to be built on, while groundworks are the bit where you do the actual foundations, drainage systems and all the rest – it’s a crucial bit of groundwork (no pun intended) to avoid any disputes or contract gaps.
Just take the Barking Riverside brownfield regeneration project – they had to clear out old industrial buildings, sort out the asbestos and do some serious work to get the ground sorted out. Or take the M25 Junction 10 improvement scheme where they had to clear the site, put in some temporary access ramps and protect loads of different utilities.
What’s the Scope of the 2026 National Framework, then?
In short, this new 2026 framework brings together the old national civil engineering framework and the national demolition and enabling works framework. So, it’s a pretty comprehensive package that takes care of all the pre-construction and construction work from start to finish.
Main Scope Areas
So, what’s included? Well, we’re talking about
- Demolition – getting rid of those unwanted buildings
- Enabling works – getting the site ready to be built on
- Civil engineering and infrastructure – the big stuff like highways and utilities
- Brownfield preparation – sorting out any contaminated land and the rest
- Design services – getting all the experts together to make sure everything works
The framework is open to all the public sector authorities across the UK – local authorities, NHS bodies, universities, emergency services, combined authorities and ALMOs. And clients can call off for bits of work as and when they need it – whether it’s a small enabling works package or a large infrastructure project.The overall ceiling value stands at roughly £5 Billion – and we’re expecting that to hold steady for the next four years. The four year term runs from September 2026 all the way through to September 2030. Contractors are increasingly using technologies like AI and digital ground modelling to give them a leg up on the competition when it comes to assessing ground risk.
Key Changes from Existing UK Civils and Enabling Frameworks
The new 2026 framework is a consolidation of two major pre-existing agreements that just made too much sense to keep separate:
- The old National Framework for Civil Engineering and Infrastructure – we’re talking active from the early 2020s.
- The National Demolition and Enabling Works Framework – that one was typically valued at a nice chunk of change – £1-2 Billion – but, to be honest, delays often creep in because the documentation just isn’t up to scratch, or the assessments are a bit too complex.
What’s Different in 2026
For the first time ever we’re letting public sector clients just roll all the pieces together – procurement for demolition, enabling works, brownfield remediation, and core civil engineering under one big umbrella framework. And the beauty of it is that they no longer have to deal with those pesky 10-15% cost premiums that often came with interface disputes when they were separating all these different contracts.
The old way of doing things would involve procuring enabling works separately – which, let’s be honest, often led to:
- All sorts of mismatched assumptions about the ground conditions
- Utility handovers that were delayed – which meant the whole programme would slip
- Unclear responsibility for early-stage risks
- Multiple tender processes that just increased the administrative burden
New and strengthened features include:
- Alignment with fresh transparency rules under the Procurement Act 2023 – you know the ones where we have to publish the pipeline 45 days before the tender
- Evaluations that put quality right out in front, rather than just letting price be the deciding factor (60% quality, 30% price, 10% social value)
- Stepped up social value requirements (we’re talking 30-40% weighting in a lot of call-offs)
- Net zero alignment – so we can take advantage of low-carbon concrete and modular methods for temporary platforms
- More structured ECI options to figure out the enabling works scope right from the get-go
- Parties are now solely responsible for framework design, delivery, and management – so accountability and all that should be a whole lot easier to keep track of
The framework interacts quite nicely with the regional frameworks like the Constructing West Midlands. We’ve got scale with the national frameworks, but regional options give us that local touch. Clients aren’t forced to use the 2026 framework if they don’t want to, but if they do decide to go with it, they get a robust, compliant route to market with the timelines all sorted.
Breakdown of the 13 Geographical Lots and Contractor Qualification
The framework is broken up into 13 geographical lots to make sure we’re getting coverage all the way across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. While getting contractors signed up early on is a good idea, working with a construction firm from the off plus getting an early understanding of those ecological mitigation requirements can actually make a huge difference in project scheduling and all that compliance with environmental regulations business.
Lot Structure
| Lot | Region |
|---|---|
| 1 | London and South East |
| 2 | South West |
| 3-4 | East and West Midlands |
| 5 | North West |
| 6 | North East |
| 7 | Yorkshire and Humber |
| 8 | East of England |
| 9 | Wales |
| 10 | Scotland (split urban/rural) |
| 11 | Northern Ireland |
| 12-13 | National/pan-UK for specialist high-value works |
Value bands get split up within lots – the lower-value bands are usually earmarked for SME contractors (so, £0.5m to £5m) and the higher-value ones (above £5m) are the ones where the Tier 1 firms will be doing their thing on major infrastructure.
Qualification Criteria
Contractors need to be able to show us they can:
- Handle a bit of financial risk – minimum 2x average annual contract value would be a good start
- 3-5 years experience of delivering a string of similar projects (brownfield demos, ground improvement, civils)
- Some sort of SSIP Forum accreditation (that’s things like CHAS Gold)
- ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certification – for the health and safety types
- CDM 2015 compliance and a good health and safety record (less than 10% EMR score)
- Capacity to do biodiversity net gain delivery, via some licensed ecologists
- Digital capability – they need to be able to do GIS for habitat mapping
Now, this is a closed framework with limited slots (8-15 contractors per lot) – Prior frameworks saw roughly 60% SME appointments in the lower-value bands.
How to Use the 2026 Framework: Procurement Routes and Rules
Public bodies can use the framework to call off enabling works, civil engineering, and brownfield remediation under the Procurement Act 2023. This framework is all about delivering long-term value and high-quality outcomes for those public sector infrastructure projects – so it gives public bodies a compliant, pre-tendered route to market with all the timelines streamlined.
Call-Off Mechanisms
Direct Award: For the straightforward enabling works packages where one contractor has a clear lead in capability and value. We’ve used this in 20-30% of similar frameworks in the past. It’s pretty useful for clear, lower-risk site clearance or ground improvement packages.
Mini-Competition: A capped competition – we’re talking 5-8 pre-qualified contractors on the relevant lot. This one’s used for complex or high-value civil engineering and enabling works projects. Timelines are typically 30-45 days.
General Procurement Rules
Approvals for enabling works might involve things like planning permissions, demolition licenses, traffic management for road closures, and environmental protection measures. Call-off contracts have got to:
- Be transparent and keep a documented selection process
- Make sure you’ve got clear scope definitions that keep enabling works separate from the subsequent construction works
- Factor in environmental outcomes – like waste reduction and carbon – into the evaluation.* Keeping on top of audit trail requirements under the Procurement Act 2023
Structuring Your Call-Offs
Think about tendering a standalone enabling package if you need to clear the site, bring down buildings or sort out land problems before the main contractor gets the job. When you’re building roads, drainage and main infrastructure in phases, integrate the enabling works into a wider section 38 package.
Why Getting an Early Contractor Involved (ECI) is a Must for Enabling Works
Getting in the enabling works or civils contractor early in the project is key – it lets them shape the design, how the work is phased, what risks are being taken on and logistics before you commit to doing the full job.
Why ECI is a Game Changer for Enabling Works
If the enabling works are properly planned from the start, it can save you a pretty penny by dealing with potential problems early on, which means you won’t need to do costly reworks and maintenance down the line. Plus, it can help get the project done faster by resolving issues before the main construction work starts and before you end up with costly project delays and stoppages.
Key reasons to get ECI in early:
- Delaying till late to find out about ground conditions and contamination can land you with £500k+ per month in delays
- The early decisions about site access and temporary works affect the enabling works and the later civils stages
- Having an early chat can avoid ecological issues (bat licences, nesting birds etc)
- Routing the utilities early on can reduce the risk of strikes when you come to dig
How the Framework Lets You Get ECI Right
You can use pre-construction services agreements (PCSAs) to call in contractors for:
- Site investigations and checks on the ground to see if it can be improved
- Models to show you how to phase the work so you don’t have to do earthworks in the winter
- Utility surveys using PAS 128 protocols to check the location of the utilities
- BIM2 modelling of temporary works to make sure it’s safe and works well
ICE stats say you can reduce the number of claims by 80% if you get ECI right. There are clear rules for turning ECI appointments into full contracts through a direct award or mini-competition.
Enabling Works Components Under the 2026 Framework
This bit sums up the main technical components you’ll need to buy from contractors to get the job done. Identifying the regulatory requirements early on, before the construction work starts, is key to avoiding hold-ups, shutdowns and penalties. Enabling works also help with sustainable construction by reducing the impact on the environment and making the project more efficient.
Site Clearance and Demolition
- Clearing buildings using methods that are compliant with the HSE Demolition Code
- Clearing vegetation, taking care not to damage any trees or disturb the local wildlife
- Removing asbestos and other hazardous materials and how you’ll handle any waste
- Making sure you segregate the waste to get 80%+ recycled
- Coordinating with the planners, demolition notices, environmental permits and all the rest
Ground Improvement and Earthworks
- Stabilising the soil with vibro compaction, stone columns or chemical treatment
- Putting down piling mats and temporary platforms to get the bearing capacity and compaction right
- Putting capping layers on contaminated land
- Moving earth to get the site to the right levels and bearing capacity
By putting money into the enabling works, you can end up saving a pretty penny in the long run – as it helps keep the site stable and the design intact, reducing the number of structural and ground-related issues.
Site Access and Temporary Works
- Temporary access routes and haul roads for 40 tonne lorries
- Building working platforms, crane bases and welfare areas
- Managing traffic and co-ordinating road closures
- Making sure you have emergency access routes on a live site
Utility Diversion and Protection
- Diversions following NRSWA protocols (28 day statutory notices)
- Creating new utility corridors and connections
- Protecting existing services with trial pits and GPR surveys
- Coordinating with the utility companies and Network Rail for rail systems
Environmental and Ecological Mitigation
- Creating habitats to increase biodiversity (10% uplift from May 2026)
- Relocating species and protecting them
- Controlling noise, dust and vibration
- Protecting trees and removing them within ecological windows
Enabling works have to meet strict rules that will vary depending on the location, project type and environmental sensitivity.
Making Sense of the Framework for Brownfield and Section 38 Enabling Packages
Brownfield regeneration projects often see enabling works dominate the early spend. There are about 25,000 brownfield sites in the UK with an estimated £7 billion unlock potential according to LGA data.
Brownfield Applications
The framework supports:
- Validating contamination to CLEA S4UL guidelines
- Demolishing old industrial buildings before capping
- Improving the ground to get the required bearing capacity on made-up ground
- Making new access to unlock housing or mixed-use development
Where you find contamination unexpectedly, it can add 20-30% to the cost. Working with contractors who have a track record of remediation can reduce that risk.
Section 38 Enabling Packages
For infrastructure that will be adopted by the highway authority:
- Estate roads, footways and drainage to DMRB standards
- Early enabling works to get the access roads ready to support phased construction project delivery
- Primary infrastructure sequenced before the housing parcels get underway
Defining Scope in Call-Offs
Make sure you clearly allocate:
- The remediation scope (who’s responsible and who’s managing it)
- The interface with the subsequent building contracts
- Handover requirements for the adopted infrastructure
- Provisioning for Unforeseen Ground Conditions
This sidesteps costly gaps between framework lots and later development contracts down the line
Managing Risk, Programme, and Potential Issues on Enabling Works Projects
Main Risk Categories
| Risk Type | Typical Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Ground risk | +15% cost from unforeseen boulders/conditions | Early surveys, ECI ground workshops |
| Contamination | 20-30% cost inflation on brownfield sites | Validation surveys pre-call-off |
| Ecology | 20% programme delays from seasonal windows | Plan clearance around constraints |
| Utilities | 10% hit rate without proper surveys | PAS 128 surveys, early NRSWA notices |
| Third parties | Variable delays from highways, Network Rail | Early engagement, realistic programmes |
Framework Risk Allocation
The framework incorporates NEC4 ECC Option C target cost contracts which allow for pain/gain share mechanisms. Standard clauses cover:
- Ground conditions and unforeseen contamination
- The need for detailed method statements and risk assessments right from the off
- Review and approval of your traffic management plan during mobilisation
Practical Tips for Clients
- Commission ground and utility surveys before awarding a contract to cut down on unknowns
- Use ECI to test different ways of phasing enabling works
- Build in some contingency for statutory processes that are outside the contractor’s control
- Don’t forget about the time it takes to divert utilities – often 3-6 months
- Factor in the survey windows for any ecological surveys when planning your programme
Aligning Enabling Works with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Objectives
This time around, under the 2026 framework, ESG outcomes are really front and centre when it comes to evaluation and delivery criteria. You see the term enabling gets used in very different ways in different fields – usually with a negative connotation in psychological contexts or a positive one in tech. But in construction, enabling represents an opportunity to really make a positive impact on the environment and society.
Environmental Outcomes
- Reduce the embodied carbon of your build through on-site material reuse (aiming for 50% aggregate recycling)
- Keep transport movements to an absolute minimum through local sourcing
- Put biodiversity net gain measures in place after site clearance
- Use low-carbon ground improvement techniques
Planning demolition, site clearance, and site access really carefully can greatly reduce waste to landfill.
Social Value
When awarding contracts under the framework, you can specify:
- Local employment targets – 10% apprenticeships at project spend
- SME supply-chain participation
- Community liaison and comms plans
- Thoughtful logistics to keep disruption to a minimum
Governance and Reporting
- Robust ESG reporting using framework management platforms
- Transparency and audit trails under the Procurement Act 2023
- Regular dashboard reporting on carbon, waste, and social metrics
- Clear accountability for all partners in the delivery process
Next Steps for UK Developers and Public Clients Preparing for 2026
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 National Framework is a single strategic route for civil engineering, infrastructure, and enabling works
- Merging civils and demolition frameworks means end-to-end planning from site clearance to infrastructure completion
- Using ECI up front really reduces risk on brownfield and complex schemes
- In tech, enabling technologies are the tools that enhance performance – similarly, this framework provides procurement tools to enhance infrastructure delivery
Immediate Actions for 2025-2026
- Get a grip on your pipeline: Identify upcoming programmes that need enabling works and civil engineering against the 13 framework lots
- Develop procurement strategies: Create template scopes for enabling works call-offs covering ground improvement, site access, and utility works
- Train your project teams: Get them familiar with the direct award and mini-competition processes under the Procurement Act 2023
- Engage early with framework hosts: Have a chat with them about regional lot capacity and innovation offers
- Plan ESG integration: Decide how you’re going to incorporate social value and carbon reduction into your evaluation criteria
Final Considerations
The 2026 National Framework is a long-run strategic shift in UK infrastructure procurement. For organisations managing housing regeneration, education campus expansions, or transport upgrades through to 2030, this framework offers a de-risked, compliant route to market.
Getting involved with framework hosts right from the start will give you a head start on understanding contractor capacity, regional quirks, and lessons learned from outgoing frameworks. The money you spend on early planning and ECI pays dividends through reduced claims, faster delivery, and better infrastructure outcomes across the UK public estate.
