The North East authority has begun market engagement for a five-year Tees Valley transport programme, inviting construction firms to advise on how the potential work should be packaged for procurement. The authority has submitted the wish-list to the Department for Transport and is preparing a procurement strategy before the programme runs from April 2027 to March 2032.
The programme covers major road schemes, railway upgrades, bus infrastructure, active travel and transport technology. The government has confirmed £978m of core transport funding for the region, but the authority says the wider programme includes projects that still require business case approvals and additional financial backing.
Projects in the pipeline
The list includes the Darlington Northern Link Road, upgrades to the A66 and A689 corridors, a new platform at Middlesbrough Station and the redevelopment of Thornaby Station. The authority is also pursuing a new station at Teesside International Airport, improvements to Middlesbrough bus station and transport links serving the Teesworks development.
Delivering the full programme will depend on government support and potentially further outside funding, the authority has acknowledged. Steve Harker, the combined authority’s cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said major transport schemes often require significant additional funding even though the body has devolved powers. He said government backing was 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.
Procurement approach
Despite the funding uncertainties, the authority is pressing ahead with early supplier engagement. 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 based on the FAC-1 Framework Alliance Contract model to bring delivery partners together and 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. The authority’s approach will shape how the pipeline is divided into packages and how contractors, including smaller regional businesses, can position themselves for the work.
The programme’s timing gives contractors visibility of a long pipeline, but it also leaves key questions open. The confirmed core funding does not cover every scheme on the list, and the authority has not said which projects would proceed first if further backing is delayed. Its decision to consider several contracts and an alliance model suggests a preference for spreading delivery capacity rather than concentrating the programme in a single award.