Tees Valley's combined authority has asked construction firms to help decide how to package a transport programme worth up to £1bn, after submitting a five-year wish-list to the Department for Transport.
The programme covers April 2027 to March 2032 and spans 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.
Schemes named on the list
The headline schemes 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.
Further ambitions on the list include a new station at Teesside International Airport, improvements to Middlesbrough bus station and transport links serving the Teesworks development.
The authority has acknowledged that delivering the full programme will depend on government support and potentially further outside funding, so the list should be read as a pipeline of ambitions rather than a fully funded construction order book.
Funding backing described as vital
Steve Harker, the combined authority's cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said it was crucial that people understood major transport schemes often need significant additional funding even where the body delivering them is devolved.
He said government backing for the plans 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.
Multiple contracts rather than one deal
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 using the FAC-1 Framework Alliance Contract model to bring delivery partners together and encourage regional contractors and SMEs to participate.
An initial supplier launch event was held on 9 November, and firms are now invited to provide feedback through a market engagement questionnaire. Contractors have until 1 March 2027 to respond.