The Welsh Government has published a Built Environment Mission Statement and a Digital Action Plan for Construction, setting out a structured approach to digital adoption across the sector. Developed in partnership with Constructing Excellence in Wales (CEW), the plan defines the steps needed to strengthen productivity, improve project delivery, and develop future-ready skills aligned with wider public sector digital ambitions.
Digital transformation
The new framework builds on the Digital Strategy for Wales released in 2021. That strategy identified construction as a priority sector where digital transformation could help address persistent challenges linked to efficiency, profitability, safety, and sustainability. CEW case studies have highlighted the need for clear enabling conditions to support innovation, particularly through procurement and data-led decision-making. In response, the Welsh Government commissioned CEW to prepare a draft plan centred on the digital deployment and adoption required to support sector change. The resulting Digital Action Plan for Construction outlines practical measures to embed digital processes into everyday practice.
Core of the plan
At the core of the plan are four priorities for action that capture the sector’s current requirements and future direction. The first priority focuses on informing the enabling environment by improving access to consistent information and creating a unified sector approach. This is intended to support stronger business cases for digital investment and enable more robust decision-making at project and organisational levels.
The second priority addresses the delivery and adoption of digital technology from concept to completion. It sets the expectation that digital tools should be used throughout the project lifecycle to secure efficiencies in areas such as design, planning, procurement, and construction management. The aim is to establish digital workflows that support predictable outcomes and measurable improvements.
A third priority focuses on post-occupancy and asset management. This reflects the growing requirement for data-led management of the public estate, including planned maintenance, operational performance, and lifecycle management. Embedding structured data into asset management processes is positioned as essential for improving service delivery and reducing waste.
The final priority centres on cross-cutting approaches that link digital capability to wider goals, including environmental performance, workforce competence, and economic development. This aligns with Wales’ ambition to support a greener economy enabled by digital tools and consistent information pathways.
Initiatives
The plan is supported by 22 proposed initiatives designed to accelerate digital construction and modernise delivery models. These include funding an Information Hub that brings together guidance, standards, legislation, research, and best practice to support organisations at different stages of digital adoption. Another initiative proposes a minimum standard for information requirements and asset management, forming the basis of a Welsh version of the UK Construction Playbook.
Additional proposals include extending requirements from forthcoming high-rise legislation to other municipal buildings, and launching a campaign linked to best-practice libraries to support data operability. The plan also considers opportunities for digital twins across public sector assets, increasing visibility of existing digital solutions, and strengthening links between funding bodies and training providers for digital skills development. Further measures focus on improving access to upskilling support for SMEs and expanding core digital competencies across higher education and apprenticeship pathways.
Coordinated direction
Together, these priorities and initiatives set a coordinated direction for digital construction in Wales. By aligning policy, procurement, skills, and asset management, the Digital Action Plan aims to accelerate sector-wide adoption and create the conditions needed for long-term improvement.
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