Billions pledged to fix crumbling buildings as ministers vow a ‘national renewal
Britain’s crumbling infrastructure is set for its biggest overhaul in decades, with ministers unveiling a colossal £725bn ten‑year investment programme to rescue deteriorating schools, hospitals, prisons, and transport links from decay.
Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, announced the long‑awaited strategy in the Commons, pledging that the government will spend at least £9bn every year over the next decade to shore up vital buildings and services across England and Wales. The programme, he said, will deliver a “national renewal” and transform communities by fixing buildings long left to rot.
Six billion pounds a year will be poured into hospitals, tackling the crisis caused by crumbling Raac concrete that has rendered many wards unsafe. A further £3bn a year will target ageing schools and colleges, allowing repairs, replacements, and vital safety upgrades. The prison and court service will get £600m annually to upgrade security and fix decaying buildings.
Embed from Getty Images“Done properly, this will result in tangible improvements to the fabric of our country,” Jones said. “Our local roads and high streets will be renewed so communities are even better places to live.”
Additional commitments include £1bn to repair the nation’s ageing network of roads, bridges, and flyovers, and £590m for the long‑delayed Lower Thames Crossing. Meanwhile, the government will invest £16bn to fund the construction of 500,000 new homes via a publicly‑owned National Housing Bank, addressing an acute housing shortage across the UK.
Although the headline figure has been announced, details of specific projects won’t be available until next month when an online portal will launch. This “pipeline” will be updated every six months to give businesses and the public a clear view of where money is going and when.
Business and industry leaders, long clamouring for stability, have embraced the initiative. Alex Vaughan, chief executive of engineering firm Costain, called it “a crucial step towards ending the short‑termism that has held the sector back.” The Railway Industry Association’s Darren Caplan added that the ten‑year outlook and forthcoming project pipeline will “give businesses the clarity they desperately need” to plan long‑term.
Henri Murison, head of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said the move would unlock vital private investment. “A government operating within the rules it has set for itself demonstrates a real commitment, one that can attract private finance and build long‑term confidence,” he said.
John Dickie, chief executive of BusinessLDN, welcomed the announcement as proof that “Britain needs a clear, committed long‑term pipeline of public investment” that gives the private sector the confidence to invest.
Sam Gould, director of policy at the Institution of Civil Engineers, called it “a significant moment” but warned that more information was needed about financing and climate resilience. “The sector needs more clarity about private finance models and how these investments will help tackle the climate crisis,” he said.
Although ambitious, the new ten‑year programme excludes so‑called ‘megaprojects’ worth over £10bn, such as the HS2 railway, the Sizewell C nuclear plant, and the Dreadnought submarine programme. These costly and long‑term undertakings will be treated separately.
With crumbling buildings and critical infrastructure long neglected, this decade‑long investment aims to save the United Kingdom from decay, rebuilding trust in its institutions and reshaping communities for a brighter future. But as the government prepares to launch its online portal and firms wait for a project pipeline, questions remain about its ability to deliver at scale — and on time.
BBC
The UK Government has announced a ten‑year, £725bn infrastructure strategy to fix crumbling hospitals, schools and courts, with £9bn a year dedicated to repairing and replacing buildings. The initiative aims to revitalise economic growth and reduce a maintenance backlog. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said the focus would be on “fewer things better” rather than spreading resources too thin, hinting that some inherited projects might be cut. A full map of new projects will be published in mid‑July. The long‑discussed northern high‑speed rail link between Liverpool and Manchester remains uncertain. The plan also includes £500m for planning reforms, £8bn for flood defences, £1bn for repairing bridges and flyovers, £39bn for affordable housing and £15.6bn for regional transport. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the investment was vital after years of decay caused by underinvestment, while the Conservative opposition argued that global economic shocks had shaped the previous government’s approach. Business leaders said the programme would aid productivity and support decarbonisation efforts across the UK.
FINANCIAL TIMES
The UK Government has announced a new wave of private financing for public infrastructure, signalling a shift towards public‑private partnerships (PPPs) to fund hospitals, schools and transport projects such as Euston station and the Lower Thames Crossing. In its ten‑year infrastructure strategy, ministers said PPPs would be used “in very limited circumstances” where value for money and risk‑transfer can be assured. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said the focus would be on “very targeted” uses of private capital for social infrastructure. The initiative aims to build on NHS England’s “off‑balance sheet” investment model, while Chancellor Rachel Reeves has adjusted fiscal rules to release an additional £113bn for public sector investment. The move comes despite the controversial legacy of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) era, which was banned for central projects in 2018 due to its cost and complexity. Lord Hutton of the Association of Infrastructure Investors backed the approach, calling it “long overdue,” while union leaders warned ministers must learn from past mistakes to protect taxpayers.
