Exploring the Perspective of PPP Performance and Application Barriers Among Construction Professionals: A Case Study of Suzhou

Although Public-private partnership (PPP) has been widely used in developing infrastructure projects in China, research on the perspective of PPP among construction professionals is still limited, which has a negative influence on the performance level of PPP application. Based on literature review, this study conducted questionnaire survey in Suzhou to explore the perspectives of PPP project performance and critical barriers in PPP application among construction professionals. The main findings are: (1) Favorable legal regulations and policy support are the most important performance influencing factor of PPP project in terms of macro environment, reasonable financing plan is the most important performance influencing factor of PPP project regarding project characteristic, SPV’s comprehensive competitiveness is the most important performance influencing factor of PPP project as to project nature; (2) The most important performance evaluation indicators of PPP project are project sustainability and project quality; (3) Imperfect laws and regulations are the critical barriers in applying PPP relating with the macro environment. Weak contractual spirit of government is the critical barrier in PPP application relating with the public sector. The discrepancy of management philosophy are the critical application barriers relating with private sector and public-private relationship. The difficulty in operation and high cost are the critical barriers relating with the project nature in PPP application. The research findings are helpful to enhance our understanding of PPP application in China.