The Tees Valley combined authority has asked construction firms how best to package up a transport programme put at around £1bn, after submitting its five-year wish-list to the Department for Transport.
The programme is due to run 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, but the wider list contains projects that would still need further business case approvals and additional financial backing.
Schemes in the pipeline
- Darlington Northern Link Road
- Upgrades to the A66 and A689 corridors
- A new platform at Middlesbrough Station
- Redevelopment of Thornaby Station
- A new station at Teesside International Airport
- Improvements to Middlesbrough bus station
- Transport links serving the Teesworks development
Alongside the headline road and rail jobs, the list therefore spans station rebuilds, a new airport station and bus and access improvements tied to a major development site.
The authority has acknowledged that delivering the full programme will depend on government support and potentially further outside funding, meaning the confirmed core allocation covers only part of the ambition set out in the submission.
Steve Harker, the combined authority's cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said it was crucial people understood that while the body is devolved, major transport schemes often require significant additional funding. He said government backing was vital because it would allow external bodies to help fund the programme, giving the region the best chance of delivering as many projects as possible in good time.
Early market engagement
Despite the funding uncertainty, 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 under the FAC-1 Framework Alliance Contract model, which would bring delivery partners together in a single collaborative arrangement and is intended to make it easier for regional contractors and SMEs to take part.
Whether the work is split into separate packages, handled through an alliance, or organised some other way is among the questions firms are being asked, with their answers intended to feed into how the procurement strategy is drawn up.
An initial supplier launch event was held on 9 November. Companies are now invited to give feedback through a market engagement questionnaire, with responses due by 1 March 2027 — shortly before the programme period is due to begin.