Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Change Protocol definition

What does Change Protocol mean? A Change Protocol is the contract’s agreed change control procedure. It sets out how any change to scope, specification, deliverables, timescales or price will be requested, assessed, approved, documented and implemented. It is a descriptive term used across commercial contracts (e.g. construction, IT, outsourcing and PPP), not a concept defined by legislation. Typical features include: who may raise a change request; required information; impact assessment on cost, programme, risk, service levels and acceptance; pricing rules (rates, margin, compensation events); approval thresholds and governance; authorised signatories; time extensions and re-baselining of milestones; documentation, audit and dispute routes; and treatment of urgent or...

UK PFI/PF2 Change Protocols: Types, Drafting, Process, Funding, Procurement Law and Documentation

Published by a LexisNexis Construction expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note examines the change protocol—sometimes called the change mechanism—commonly included in the Project Agreement for a pfi or pf2 (occasionally termed PFII) project. It explores why the change protocol exists, the categories of change, the steps for implementing change, the effects of change, and the ramifications under procurement law. In the 2018 Budget (delivered on 29 October 2018), the government confirmed it would cease using PF2 for new projects (see News Analysis: Budget 2018—what does it mean for infrastructure and housebuilding?). Nonetheless, the government has indicated it will continue to back private investment in infrastructure, and certain elements of the established drafting may still have relevance in those circumstances. Moreover, live PFI and PF2 arrangements will remain in operation and, given the usual duration of such arrangements, are expected to run for many years. Accordingly, while PF2 will not be pursued for fresh procurements, the change provisions discussed here remain instructive wherever private finance continues to play a part.

What is the change protocol?

Given the lengthy lifespan of PFI and PF2 contracts, it was crucial to ensure they were future‑proofed from the outset, at the point of entering into the contract...

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Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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