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Analytical Report Connected and Autonomous Plant

Report commissioned byThe Department for Transport, produced by COSTAIN in collaboration with the International Transport Experts Network (ITEN) reveals that greater adoption of Connected and Autonomous Plant could add billions to the UK economy.

Connected Autonomous Plant (CAP) refers to the integration of advanced technology, such as sensors, robotics, and machine learning, to create autonomous vehicles and equipment that operate independently on construction sites. This technology aims to enhance efficiency, safety, and productivity in the construction industry by reducing human intervention and automating various tasks.

The analysis examines the economic and safety benefits of deploying Connected Autonomous Plant across the UK construction sector. CAP provides the opportunity for the construction sector to rethink design and delivery, access new and more effective materials practices through automation. It will require new skills among the workforce.

Cambridge Econometrics carried out the cost-benefit analysis of CAP deployment, using various quantitative methods including bespoke dynamic multi-tech input-output model to estimate the expected economic benefits of key components of change that CAP would bring about.

The key findings and recommendations of this report supports policymakers and industry stakeholders with a clearer understanding of the scale, distribution and drivers of CAP’s economic value.

 

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Connected and Autonomous Plant

Key findings

The analysis shows that widespread adoption of Connected and Autonomous Plant could deliver substantial economic benefits for the UK.

Economic benefit: Wide CAP deployment could generate substantial additional economic value, large cost savings, improved productivity and material safety improvements across construction and the wider economy under a variety of uptake scenarios.

Systemic Adoption Barriers: Realising CAP’s potential requires addressing capital costs, digital maturity, skills gaps, fragmented procurement, legal uncertainty and data management. These challenges mirror broader UK issues in commercialising and diffusing innovation.

Labour Market: CAP adoption is projected to reshape the workforce, reducing certain on-site roles but generating new opportunities in the construction sector and across the economy as a whole. Average earnings in the construction sector would rise although overall employment in the sector would be lower.

Safety Notably, thousands of injuries and dozens of fatalities could be prevented.

Economic impact by 2050 - central scenario

GVA

Impact

 

Road/rail sector via cost savings: £14bn

Rest of economy: £61bn

Total: £75bn

Jobs

 

 

Construction: -25,000 jobs

Wider economy: +54,800

 

Recommendations

Targeted interventions—such as clear standards, strategic procurement, and sector-specific adoption support—can help overcome barriers and serve as a blueprint for wider innovation diffusion, linking research and technical capability to productivity and welfare gains.

 

Get in touch

If you would like to discuss this study or learn more about economic impact assessments related to technology deployment, please contact Adam Brown.

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Adam Brown

Head of UK Economic & Social Policy

t: +44 (0)1223 533165

e:alb@camecon.com