The Tees Valley combined authority has submitted a five-year transport wish-list to the Department for Transport and is now asking construction firms how the potential work should be packaged up for procurement.
The programme is presented as a roughly £1bn pipeline and would run from April 2027 to March 2032. Its scope 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 includes projects that still require further business case approvals and additional financial backing.
Schemes named in the programme
According to the authority, the headline projects include:
- The 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.
The authority acknowledges 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 require significant additional funding even for a devolved body. He argued that government backing for the plans is 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.
Procurement and supplier engagement
Despite the funding uncertainties, the authority is pressing ahead with early supplier engagement to shape 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 using the FAC-1 Framework Alliance Contract model, which would bring delivery partners together and is intended to encourage regional contractors and SMEs 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.