The Tees Valley combined authority has submitted a five-year transport wish-list to the Department for Transport and is asking construction firms for feedback on how the potential work should be packaged for procurement.
The programme runs 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 authority said the wider programme includes projects that still require business case approvals and additional financial backing.
Schemes on the list
Major 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.
Other ambitions include a new station at Teesside International Airport, improvements to Middlesbrough bus station and transport links serving the Teesworks development.
The authority 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 require significant additional funding even for a devolved body. He said government backing is vital because it would allow external bodies to help fund the programme and give the region the best chance of delivering as many projects as possible in good time.
The list therefore combines schemes within the confirmed core funding envelope with others that remain dependent on further approvals and funding decisions. The authority has not presented the programme as a fully funded construction pipeline.
Procurement and supplier engagement
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 using the FAC-1 Framework Alliance Contract model to bring delivery partners together and encourage regional contractors and small and medium-sized enterprises to participate.
The procurement strategy is still being prepared, and the market engagement questionnaire is intended to gather contractors’ views before the authority settles on contract packaging. The authority is seeking views on how to group that broad range of work into packages that contractors can bid for.
An initial supplier launch event was held on 9 November. Firms are now invited to provide feedback through the questionnaire, with responses due by 1 March 2027. The authority has also invited contractors to register an interest. The engagement is taking place before contract awards.