Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Infrastructure definition

What does Infrastructure mean? In legal practice, infrastructure describes assets and networks that provide essential or public services and the projects to procure, finance, construct, operate and maintain them. It is a descriptive term rather than a single defined legal concept; sectoral statutes and planning regimes define specific categories for particular purposes (for example, nationally significant infrastructure projects under the Planning Act 2008 in England and Wales; national or major developments in Scotland; regionally significant development in Northern Ireland; and strategic infrastructure development under Ireland’s Planning and Development Acts). Sectors commonly include transport (roads, railways, ports and airports), social infrastructure (schools, hospitals and justice estates),...

Infrastructure projects: key parties, roles, interfaces and risk allocation across procurement, construction, O&M and project finance

Published by a LexisNexis Construction expert

Practice notes

The mix of participants on an Infrastructure scheme hinges on the project type and the way it is procured and funded. Set out below is a typical party involved in such projects.

Employer

The employer is the party seeking delivery of the infrastructure Asset and overseeing the procurement. Examples of employers include:

government bodies commissioning roads, rail networks, pipelines, schools, prisons, hospitals or energy schemes
private companies commissioning mining developments, oil and gas exploitation, energy schemes or processing plants

Ordinarily, the employer prepares a project brief defining the asset’s required function and performance, then invites contractors to tender. Once a preferred bidder is chosen, the employer appoints a contractor (or several) to design and build the asset. The employer typically provides the finance and pays the contractor. Often—though not invariably—the employer also owns the site where the asset will be constructed.

For project-financed infrastructure, the participants and responsibilities differ slightly. In this model, a Project Co (usually a special purpose entity) is established to procure the infrastructure project. The Project Co enters into an agreement...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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