The Tees Valley authority has submitted a five-year transport wish-list to the Department for Transport and is asking construction firms how the potential work should be packaged for procurement. The programme runs from April 2027 to March 2032 and covers major road schemes, railway upgrades, bus infrastructure, active travel and transport technology.
The government has already confirmed £978m of core transport funding for the region. The wider programme, however, includes projects that still require further business-case approvals and additional financial backing. The authority has acknowledged that delivering the full programme will depend on government support and potentially further outside funding, so the list should not be read as a fully funded construction pipeline.
Schemes in the pipeline
Major schemes on the list include the Darlington Northern Link Road, upgrades to the A66 and A689 corridors, a new platform at Middlesbrough Station and the redevelopment of Thornaby Station. Other ambitions include a new station at Teesside International Airport, improvements to Middlesbrough bus station and transport links serving the Teesworks development.
The mix spans highways, rail, bus and wider connectivity. Yet the authority has tied delivery of the full programme to government backing and potential outside investment, leaving the timing and final scope of individual projects subject to approvals and funding decisions.
Funding and delivery conditions
Steve Harker, the combined authority’s cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said it was crucial people understood that major transport schemes often require significant additional funding, even for a devolved body. He said government backing was vital because it would allow external bodies to help fund the programme and give the region the best chance of delivering as many projects as possible in good time.
Despite the funding uncertainties, the authority is pressing ahead with early supplier engagement to prepare its procurement strategy. It expects to let multiple contracts covering highways, rail, civil engineering and specialist infrastructure rather than award one giant deal.
It is also considering a programme-wide alliance using the FAC-1 Framework Alliance Contract model to bring together delivery partners and encourage regional contractors and SMEs to participate.
Market feedback
An initial supplier launch event was held on 9 November. Firms are now invited to provide feedback through a market engagement questionnaire, with contractors given until 1 March 2027 to respond.
The 1 March 2027 deadline falls shortly before the programme is due to begin in April 2027. It gives contractors, including smaller regional firms, an early opportunity to comment on contract packaging before formal tenders are issued.
For construction firms, the immediate opportunity is market engagement rather than a call for tenders. The authority is testing how to divide work across highways, rail, civil engineering and specialist infrastructure while keeping options open for an alliance model. The confirmed £978m core funding provides a base, but the wider £1bn wish-list still depends on approvals and additional backing.