Boris ‘new deal’ injects £5bn to speed-up infrastructure

Aaron Morby 3 years ago
Share

Prime Minister Boris Johnson reveals details today of his build, build, build recovery plan for the UK economy.

Johnson promises to 'build back better, build back greener, build back faster and to do that at the pace that the moment requires'
Johnson promises to 'build back better, build back greener, build back faster and to do that at the pace that the moment requires'

He will reveal that the Government plans to pump £5bn into accelerating key projects across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Johnson’s “New Deal” puts construction in the engine room of the government’s economic growth strategy to support jobs and national renewal.

Boris New Deal


• £1.5bn this year for hospital maintenance, eradicating mental health dormitories, enabling hospital building, and improving A&E capacity.

• £100m this year for 29 road projects, from bridge repairs in Sandwell to boosting the quality of the A15 in the Humber region. Plus £10m for development work to unblock the Manchester rail bottleneck, which will begin this year.

• Over £1bn to fund the first 50 projects of a new, 10-year school rebuilding programme, starting from 2020-21. These projects will be confirmed in the Autumn, and construction on the first sites will begin from September 2021.

• £560m and £200m for repairs and upgrades to schools and FE colleges respectively this year.

• £142m for digital upgrades and maintenance to around 100 court rooms this year, £83m for maintenance of prisons and youth offender facilities, and £60m for temporary prison places, creating thousands of new jobs.

• £900m for a range of ‘shovel ready’ local growth projects in England over the course of this year and next, as well as £96m to accelerate investment in town centres and high streets through the Towns Fund this year. This will provide all 101 towns selected for town deals with £500k-£1m to spend on projects such as improvements to parks, high streets, and transport.

To support his build, build, build ambition, in the Autumn the government will also publish its delayed National Infrastructure Strategy which will set a clear direction on core economic infrastructure, including energy networks, road and rail, flood defences and waste.

Johnson will also pledge to carry out a review to look at how best to improve road, rail, air and sea links between the four nations to create a more connected kingdom.

He said: “It sounds positively Rooseveltian. It sounds like a New Deal. All I can say is that if so, then that is how it is meant to sound and to be, because that is what the times demand.

“If we deliver this plan together, then we will together build our way back to health.

“We will not just bounce back, we will bounce forward – stronger and better and more united than ever before.”

Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive said: “The Prime Minister’s commitment to accelerate the UK’s long-term infrastructure pipeline is a critical factor for the country’s recovery.

“As well as stimulating regional and national economies, it will generate vast employment opportunities across the country and help provide our younger generations with employable skills. Without this, following the fall-out from COVID-19, we could see widespread structural unemployment issues.

 “It is a commitment I welcome warmly, but our industry must prioritise sustainable, digital and innovative solutions in our delivery.

“In doing so, we will safeguard our future capabilities and provide certainty for the workforce of tomorrow”.

Latest news

Bouygues/Murphy JV tipped for £2.3bn Thames tunnel job

Frontrunner emerges for Lower Thames Crossing 4.2km tunnel job
2 days ago

Subbies facing squeeze as main contractors tighten belts

Pay disputes increasing as suppliers fear major contractors returning to "bad old ways"
2 days ago

Portview takes control of Fulham Buckingham stand

Fit-out specialist steps in after main contractor failure
2 days ago

Firefighters probe cause of Leeds modular scheme blaze

Fire broke out in timber frame office job at Citu's eco development
2 days ago

Manslaughter probe dropped after demolition deaths

HSE to now lead investigation of 2019 tragedy
2 days ago

Vinci/McAlpine JV to start £105m NHS rehabilitation centre

Treasury clears New Hospital Programme job to start main construction
2 days ago

First sign of price falls for construction products

Supply returns to pre-covid levels as demand drops
3 days ago

Three giant lab buildings approved at £700m Oxford R&D district

Phase 2 Oxford North office and lab buildings to deliver 460,000 sq ft of space
4 days ago

PM fails to quash speculation about plan to axe HS2 phase 2

Sunak ducks future of HS2 question at big net zero Government briefing
3 days ago

Green light for giant North Wales offshore wind farm

Awel y Môr wind farm is the biggest renewable investment in Wales for a decade
3 days ago

T&T breaks £1bn revenue mark for first time

Global consultant enjoys strong growth across all seven geographical regions
3 days ago

Subcontractors and suppliers wanted across Scotland

Constructionline Meet the Buyer event next week at Hampden Park: Register now
3 days ago

Springfield switches strategy as private housing slumps

Scottish house builder turns back to affordable homes market
4 days ago

Sunak details zero carbon targets climbdown

Ban on gas boilers delayed five years; 50% rise in scrappage scheme
3 days ago

RG Group to build tallest student block in the world

Contractor confirmed on 45-storey tower in Leeds
4 days ago

Galliford Try forecasts profit to double next year

Contractor delivers strong results this year and raises expectation for 2024
4 days ago

Strabag hires 15 senior Buckingham Group staff

Austrian civils giant to set up UK building business with pool of staff
5 days ago

Contractors raise pay offer to avert engineering construction strike

Blue book agreement employers up final offer to 10%
4 days ago

Former Mid Group chief joins Tilbury Douglas

Steven Hearn gets new role as regional director of the South East division
4 days ago

Crumbly concrete found at extra 27 schools

A total of 174 schools now found to contain RAAC concrete
5 days ago

Henry Boot Construction struggling to find work

Contracting arm looking to fill order book
5 days ago

More schools found to have crumbly concrete

Surveyors find another 27 schools containing Raac
5 days ago

Buckingham Plant Hire still trading as normal

Separate plant business "not affected" by collapse of contractor
5 days ago

NG Bailey makes £25m loss after Britishvolt shock

Gigafactory loss and problem contracts blow hole in books
6 days ago

Steelwork specialist Billington delivers record first-half

Overseas recruitment push boosts headcount by 10% to drive growth
5 days ago

Vinci wins major St Helens town centre revamp

£90m first phase includes new market hall, 120-bed hotel and over 60 flats
5 days ago

Mace deputy chairman to step down from board

Mace veteran Mark Holmes will leave at the end of the year
5 days ago

CHIC extends bid deadline on £3.2bn new build framework

Closing date for 8-year framework set for 20 October
6 days ago

Work to start this year on Manchester £250m spa resort

Developer Therme gets green light for re-engineered 28-acre Trafford complex
6 days ago

Costain bags £80m water order for upgrades at 16 sites

Severn Trent contracts include work to improve wastewater quality and protect wildlife
6 days ago

Contractor services