UK Government unveils £725bn 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy

Set out in the newly published 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, the programme includes funding commitments covering transport, energy, housing, education, health, and digital connectivity.

The government states that the plan provides long-term funding certainty, enabling the construction industry to invest in skills, technology, and capacity.

What does the strategy mention?

A key feature of the strategy is the introduction of a dynamic Infrastructure Pipeline, intended to give construction businesses greater visibility over future demand. Launching in July 2025, the digital pipeline will offer detailed data on major projects, including timelines, funding allocations, and procurement routes. The government expects the tool will help firms align resources, invest in innovation, and plan for the decade ahead.

The strategy places significant emphasis on supporting regional growth. Major transport upgrades – including the Transpennine Route Upgrade, East West Rail, and the Lower Thames Crossing – form part of the plan to improve connectivity. 

The government has reaffirmed its target to deliver clean power by 2030, with new funding directed towards offshore wind, solar, nuclear, and hydrogen projects. The strategy allocates £19.8 billion for upgrades to transmission networks, alongside reforms designed to accelerate grid connections. 

To address what has been described as historic underinvestment, £119 billion has been committed over the next five years for schools, hospitals, and prisons. The School Rebuilding Programme and New Hospital Programme will deliver modern, sustainable facilities, making greater use of standardised designs to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Legislative changes on the horizon

Legislative changes are also proposed, with a forthcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill designed to simplify approvals and reduce delays to major schemes. The government plans to align spatial planning with housing, environmental, and regional development priorities.

The strategy emphasises the importance of modern construction methods, digital technologies such as digital twins, and nature-based solutions. The government is consulting on reforms to procurement practices, aiming to enhance social value, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and encourage sustainability across the sector.

Additionally, the plan seeks to attract private capital through mechanisms including Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model, and the National Wealth Fund. These are intended to create new opportunities for collaboration between the public and private sectors on infrastructure delivery.