The Tees Valley combined authority has submitted a five-year transport wish-list to the UK Department for Transport and is asking construction firms for views on how the potential work should be packaged for procurement.
The authority has described the plan as a wish-list and is beginning procurement planning before individual schemes are fully committed. Its scope spans new road links, corridor upgrades, station projects, bus improvements, active travel and transport technology.
The programme would 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 programme includes projects that still require further business case approvals and additional financial backing.
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 confirmed £978m is core transport funding. The wider list goes beyond that amount, with some projects still needing business case approval and additional financial backing before delivery. That leaves the overall programme dependent on further funding decisions even as procurement planning moves forward.
The authority has acknowledged that delivering the full programme will depend on government support and potentially further outside funding. Steve Harker, the combined authority’s cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said major transport schemes often need significant additional funding even when promoted by a devolved body. He said government backing was vital because it would allow external bodies to help fund the programme and improve the chances 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 large deal. It is also considering a programme-wide alliance under the FAC-1 Framework Alliance Contract model to bring together delivery partners and encourage regional contractors and small and medium-sized enterprises to take part.
An initial supplier launch event was held on 9 November. Firms are now invited to provide feedback through a market engagement questionnaire, with responses due by 1 March 2027. The engagement process is intended to inform how the authority structures the work, but it does not by itself confirm that any individual scheme will proceed or that the full programme is funded.