The Biggest Challenges Facing Construction Projects in 2026

Mark Weston, Managing Director - JMS Group

As we enter 2026, I’ve been reflecting on conversations I’ve had over the past year with developers, contractors and architects across the industry.

While the construction sector has always faced pressure, the challenges being discussed today feel different. They are less about single issues in isolation, and more about how multiple constraints - programme, regulation, sustainability and coordination - collide on live projects.

What strikes me most is that many of the challenges affecting construction projects in 2026 aren’t always obvious at the outset. They often emerge as projects progress, revealing the importance of early decisions, technical clarity and realistic planning.

It raises an important question for the year ahead:

What is the biggest challenge facing construction projects in 2026?

From my perspective, the answer is rarely simple - but there are clear themes emerging across the industry.

Complexity in Project Delivery

One of the defining characteristics of modern construction is the sheer level of coordination required to deliver projects successfully. Increased design detail, overlapping responsibilities and compressed programmes mean that small issues can quickly escalate into major delays.

In 2026, construction teams are expected to make earlier decisions with greater certainty, often before all site conditions or downstream implications are fully understood. This puts pressure on early-stage planning, technical coordination and the integration between design and construction.

The result is that projects live or die by how well risks are anticipated and managed - not just on site, but long before ground is broken.

Programme Pressure and Buildability

Programme certainty continues to be one of the biggest challenges for construction projects this year. Labour availability, supply chain volatility and late-stage design changes all contribute to programmes being pushed beyond their limits.

What has changed is the tolerance for delay. Clients and funders are less willing to absorb programme slippage, placing greater responsibility on project teams to identify buildability issues early and resolve them collaboratively.

Construction in 2026 demands designs that are not only compliant and efficient, but genuinely buildable. This requires closer alignment between architects, engineers and contractors from the earliest stages of a project.

Regulatory and Compliance Demands

Regulatory compliance remains a significant challenge, particularly as building safety, sustainability and performance standards continue to evolve. While regulations are essential, navigating them alongside cost and programme constraints adds further complexity to construction projects.

For many teams, the challenge is not understanding the regulations themselves, but integrating compliance requirements seamlessly into the construction process without introducing unnecessary risk or delay.

This reinforces the need for clear technical leadership and robust engineering input that considers regulation as part of the wider delivery strategy - not an afterthought.

Sustainability Without Compromising Delivery

Sustainability targets are no longer optional. In 2026, construction projects are expected to demonstrate meaningful progress toward net zero goals while still meeting commercial and programme demands.

Balancing sustainability with structural efficiency, material availability and buildability is one of the most difficult challenges facing the industry. Decisions made early in a project - particularly around substructure, materials and sequencing - can have a disproportionate impact on carbon outcomes and overall viability.

The challenge lies in making informed, practical choices that support long-term performance without introducing short-term delivery risk.

The Importance of Early Technical Insight

Across all these challenges, a common theme emerges: the importance of early, informed technical decision-making.

Projects that struggle in 2026 are rarely undone by a single issue. More often, they are affected by a series of small, unaddressed constraints that compound over time - ground conditions, coordination gaps, unrealistic programmes or late design changes.

Construction teams that invest in early engineering insight, realistic planning and collaborative problem-solving are far better placed to manage uncertainty and deliver successful outcomes.

Looking Ahead

Construction in 2026 is defined by complexity, expectation and change. The biggest challenge is not any one factor in isolation, but how the industry adapts to manage them collectively.

By focusing on buildability, coordination and early-stage clarity, developers, contractors and consultants can turn today’s challenges into opportunities for better, more resilient project delivery.

The conversation around construction challenges this year is an important one - and it’s one the industry needs to keep having.

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JMS Engineers are award-winning Consulting Structural & Civil Engineers with over 25 years experience in providing engineering solutions across residential, commercial and industrial projects.

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