What is scope creep (and how can you prevent it)?
Posted on: 26 May, 2025
Scope creep is a major challenge in the built environment that costs time, money and vital resources. Here’s how leaders in the sector can overcome it.
In industries such as construction, project success relies not only on the expertise of project managers, but their ability to align with client objectives. But when scope creep occurs, there are a number of challenges that can arise.
With the UK construction industry facing increasing delays, and 9 out of 10 construction projects experiencing cost overruns of almost 30%, understanding the cause of scope creep and the best ways to address it is key.
But what is scope creep exactly, and what can be done to mitigate it?
What is scope creep?
Scope creep, or project creep, is the continuous or uncontrolled growth in a project’s scope, and usually occurs after the project begins. While some changes are unavoidable, scope creep is generally considered destructive and harmful to project success, making it harder to achieve goals and targets, or work effectively within time and budget constraints.
In construction, scope creep happens when a client adds new requirements, briefs or deliverables outside of the existing scope of work. Due to these unforeseen changes to the original plans and project schedule, construction companies may miss deadlines and clients can experience financial loss.
What causes scope creep?
It’s not unusual for construction projects to encounter changes. However, when there are continuous changes that are uncontrolled and outside of the original scope, this can be problematic.
When companies undergo large-scale changes, there’s even greater risk of project scope creep, which means change management must be a consideration.
Here are some of the main causes of scope creep that you should be aware of:
1. A lack of clarity in project goals/objectives
Part of a successful client-consultant relationship is effective management of the project scope. When deliverables aren’t clearly defined, there’s a much higher risk of scope creep. This is due to expectations not being understood and managed, and parties not being aligned.
2. Poor planning
If a project is vision-orientated but lacking in detail, it’s possible that leaders are only looking at the bigger picture. Without a comprehensive project plan and clear roadmap, it can be easier to lose focus, steer off course, or allow for changes to creep in. This leads to an increasing lack of control over scope and deliverables.
3. A lack of communication
One of the biggest causes of scope creep is poor communication between the construction company and the client. If flags aren’t raised when scope starts to creep and there’s little transparency over budget and roadmap issues, deviations can quickly emerge.
In order for everyone to be aligned, there must be sufficient stakeholder engagement from the start, as well as continued engagement and communication throughout the timeline.
4. Insufficient processes in place
Another catalyst for scope creep is a lack of processes for change requests. When construction managers and project managers do not set clear steps for clients to follow when it comes to new project features or deliverables, requests can end up being ad hoc and are therefore harder to manage.
5. Underestimating project complexity
Scope creep can happen when unrealistic goals are set, and the complexity of the build is underestimated. Further issues can then occur when the project scope needs to increase but the client’s budget is inflexible.
How scope creep impacts projects
When project changes are uncontrolled in the built environment sector, there are a multitude of problems, impacting both the client and the contractor.
Some of the biggest issues caused by scope creep include project delays and cost overruns, poor quality products and unsatisfactory outcomes, as well as reduced profit for both client and contractor. This is because when changes to scope are not controlled or effectively managed, project managers are likely to make compromises, resulting in poor decision-making.
Not to be overlooked is team burnout, and the subsequent impact on deliverables as teams are driven to work under extreme pressure. High-pressure work environments can often mean rushing to meet deadlines and cutting corners as a result.
Furthermore, working under such pressures can have a lasting effect on employee morale, and consequently, employee retention.
7 ways to avoid scope creep
Even when the consequences of project creep are clear to all parties, uncontrolled, last-minute changes can still slip through the net. This is why it’s critical for businesses to consider methods of scope creep prevention in the early stages of project planning.
Here are 7 ways to avoid scope creep in construction:
1. Define the project scope from the outset
Laying the right foundation is key, as a well-defined project plan allows for easier identification and management of changes. To ensure absolute alignment with stakeholders, be rigorous in gathering and specifying requirements. This will help to prevent change requests further down the line, maintaining a mutual understanding about core priorities.
2. Set clear goals and objectives
Establishing core goals and objectives provides project leaders with a clear direction throughout the project, even when the client asks for changes. Referring clients back to their original goals not only maintains momentum for the project, but it can prevent issues such as stakeholder deviation from the initial plan.
3. Practice continuous monitoring
Articulate the work that will be done by providing your client with milestones and metrics, and continuously monitor the project for any possible changes. Continuous monitoring can be achieved through vigilance and feedback, and by anticipating any hurdles that may arise.
4. Create a process for change
Have a clear process in place to manage change requests. This gives the construction company an element of control, allowing project leaders to review change requests effectively. This process needs to be shared during the earliest meetings, ensuring everyone is on the same page when it comes to scope creep prevention.
5. Get key stakeholders on board
Making sure you have stakeholder buy-in and engagement is essential to project success. In addition to your written contact, you’ll also need to hold regular meetings to ensure you don’t overlook any client expectations. Be as transparent as possible with stakeholders to avoid unrealistic project timelines, and set appropriate boundaries to protect project outcomes.
6. Communicate clearly and often
Create effective communication channels and schedule regular meetings to discuss progress. If project deliverables are to change at any stage, this needs to be clearly communicated, including a forecast of potential impacts, budget concerns or challenges.
7. Establish a minimum viable product (MVP)
Defining your Minimum Viable Product (MVP) from the outset can provide stakeholders with focus, without stifling their creativity. With an MVP, you can create prioritisation of features, so everyone is clear on what tasks must be done first and foremost before any additional features can be added.
Scope creep starts small
Despite the obvious pitfalls of letting uncontrolled changes impinge on a build, managing client requests for changes can be extremely difficult. This is why it’s vital to have steps in place to prevent, mitigate and track such requests.
Project managers must also be able to spot early signs of scope creep. For instance, small requests can quickly add up to collectively impact the entire project’s direction, so leaders need to be mindful of any changes, however minor or seemingly insignificant. It’s also the construction team’s responsibility to stay alert to any adjustments that are not part of the initial scope, and this requires excellent internal communications and a collaborative mind-set to catch any deviations early.
Furthermore, businesses will need to be transparent with their need to set boundaries with clients and stakeholders. Ultimately, as clients have the final say and as some changes are unavoidable, it’s important to have contingencies in place, as well as alternative approaches to support additional requests without straying too far from the initial scope.
