The government has today published its landmark 10 Year UK Infrastructure Strategy – the new approach to infrastructure will include vital reforms to ensure planning and delivery is joined up, backed by £725 billion in long-term funding for maintenance and major projects.

The Strategy sets out a long-term plan for how the government will invest in infrastructure and ensure that funding is spent effectively and efficiently, marking a new approach to how projects are planned and delivered.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

“Infrastructure is crucial to unlocking growth across the country, but for too long investment has been squeezed. Crumbling public buildings are a sign of the decay that has seeped into our everyday lives because of a total failure to plan and invest.

“We’re not just fixing buildings – we’re enhancing public services, improving lives and creating the conditions for sustainable economic growth in communities throughout the UK.

“This will deliver the decade of national renewal we promised Britain, and fulfil our Plan for Change goals to kickstart economic growth, and build an NHS fit for the future.”

The Government says the strategic investment approach will help break the cycle of deterioration and emergency repairs that has characterised public infrastructure maintenance for decades. By adopting a preventative approach, services will face fewer disruptive closures, operate more efficiently, and deliver better value for taxpayers in the long term.

The 10-year maintenance investment will deliver tangible improvements for people across the country, including:

• Health: Over £6 billion per year will create safer hospital environments across England with reduced waiting times, improved patient outcomes, and better working conditions for NHS staff. By eliminating RAAC concrete and addressing critical infrastructure risks, patients will receive care in modern facilities that support rather than hinder their treatment and recovery.
• Education: Investment in school and college maintenance will rise to almost £3 billion annually, transforming learning environments across England and providing safe and high-quality spaces for children and young people, improving educational outcomes and breaking down barriers to opportunity.
• Justice: At least £600 million investment each year will improve safety and security in prisons across England and Wales, reducing incidents and creating environments more conducive to rehabilitation. Enhanced court facilities will help reduce backlogs and improve access to justice.

To support delivery of this strategy, the government is funding at least £725 billion for the country’s infrastructure over the next decade, ensuring that public infrastructure capital funding continues to grow in line with inflation after the current Spending Review period. The funding certainty will help government and industry plan further ahead, allowing for more efficient delivery of UK wide infrastructure.

The 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy outlines the government’s comprehensive approach to infrastructure investment across all sectors. The funding commitment follows recommendations from the National Audit Office on the need for long-term, sustainable maintenance funding.

The funding in the 10YIS includes:

• £1 billion to carry out maintenance on key transport infrastructure, including crumbling bridges, flyovers and crossing.
• £590 million to start work on the Lower Thames Crossing.
• £16 billion of new public investment to help build over 500,000 new homes, which will also unlock over £53bn of private investment.

The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), established by the government this year, will work with partners across government and industry to effectively implement the strategy across the whole of the UK. NISTA will periodically review the progress made and work with devolved governments to ensure that infrastructure strategy across the UK is joined up.

Becky Wood, Chief Executive Officer of NISTA, said:

“This investment is a welcome part of the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy and will help us to address some of the challenges that our key public services have faced over recent years.

“Strategic preventative maintenance based on longer-term plans is a more effective approach than making decisions in the absence of certainty about the future - and will ensure our vital public services remain resilient and fit for purpose.

“By approaching replacement and maintenance of our infrastructure in an informed and systematic way, we can target interventions effectively and plan properly for the future.”

Click here to download the 10 Year UK Infrastructure Strategy