The Tees Valley combined authority has begun market engagement for a proposed five-year transport programme tied to a £1bn wish-list, asking construction firms how the potential work should be packaged for procurement.
The authority has submitted its transport wish-list for April 2027 to March 2032 to the Department for Transport. The programme covers major road schemes, railway upgrades, bus infrastructure, active travel and transport technology.
Government has already confirmed £978m of core transport funding for the region. The wider programme, however, includes projects that still require further business case approvals and additional financial backing.
Projects in the pipeline
Major schemes named in the programme 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 it was important to recognise that while the body is devolved, major transport schemes often require significant additional funding. 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.
The £1bn figure covers a broader collection of schemes than the £978m already confirmed. The programme therefore combines projects within the core funding envelope with others that remain contingent on further business case approvals and additional investment.
Procurement approach
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. The authority said this would bring together delivery partners and encourage regional contractors and SMEs to participate.
The authority expects its procurement strategy to be shaped by the market engagement. The proposed contract structure would separate highways, rail, civil engineering and specialist infrastructure work, while the possible alliance model would operate across the programme rather than within a single contract.
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 engagement process is intended to inform how the authority packages the work before procurement begins. The programme’s overall scope remains subject to government support, business case approvals and possible additional funding.