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 for procurement.
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 list includes projects that still require further business case approvals and additional financial backing.
Schemes named on the list
Among the projects set out are:
- the Darlington Northern Link Road;
- upgrades to the A66 and A689 corridors;
- a new platform at Middlesbrough Station and the redevelopment of Thornaby Station;
- a proposed new station at Teesside International Airport;
- improvements to Middlesbrough bus station;
- 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. In practice, that means the confirmed £978m covers core transport funding, while schemes outside that envelope would only move forward if their business cases are approved and more money is secured.
Funding caveat
Steve Harker, the combined authority's cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said it was crucial that people understood that while the body is devolved, major transport schemes often require significant additional funding. Government backing for the plans was therefore vital, he said, 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 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. Because the work is likely to be divided in this way, it could be broken down by discipline, which would give regional firms a route in alongside larger contractors.
The authority 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.
Submitting the list is a step ahead of any formal procurement: the authority is seeking the market's view on how best to package the work rather than setting out fixed lots at this stage.