The review will headed by Professor David Mosey of King’s College London.

And the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) said the move is “long overdue” because its members are “hamstrung by a frameworks system that is not fit for purpose.”

CECA fear the rapid growth of frameworks had led to overlapping deals for projects and punitive bidding costs for contractors.

Director of External Affairs Marie-Claude Hemming said: “It is nearly a decade since the UK Government received a cross-industry  recommendation to establish a ‘clearing house’ to avoid unfair and overlapping frameworks.

“We recognise that while commercial frameworks are a powerful tool to implement strategic planning and  the delivery of optimal project outcomes, their proliferation in recent years has led to a fragmented and  sometimes contradictory system that imposes burdens on businesses.

“Professor Mosey’s review should focus on identifying best practice when it comes to frameworks, and  we look forward to engaging with his work with the goal of securing value for money for the client across  infrastructure procurement in the UK.

“CECA’s own research has highlighted a number of areas in which frameworks should be reformed, and we  hope this work will be taken into consideration by the review.

“Establishing what the ‘gold standard’ is for frameworks and implementing this model will ultimately lead  to better outcomes for the UK taxpayer, the economy, and for our members, who at the current time are hamstrung by a frameworks system that is not fit for purpose.”