Building Systems Thinking: Crunch time

By Andrew Mylius 2026-01-16T07:00:00

The deteriorating condition and performance of existing infrastructure is a looming threat to UK economic and social progress. The government and industry need to get serious about asset management, and fast.

When infrastructure stops working, or doesn’t work as intended, we very quickly experience the impacts – and get angry about it.

At best, failing or underperforming infrastructure causes inconvenience. At worst it costs lives.

There has been a marked uptick in ‘precursor’ events in the last few years – defects requiring urgent action to preserve service and safety. This is most obvious across the highways network, with potholed roads and weight-restricted or closed bridges causing daily aggro. But the condition of railway, water, sewer and flood defence systems is increasingly precarious.

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