London, UK – 19th June, 2025 – In a major policy shift to address long-standing challenges in the UK’s public infrastructure, the government has introduced a comprehensive 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy, committing at least £725 billion in investment over the next decade. The plan sets out a new direction for infrastructure planning and delivery, with the aim of tackling the growing maintenance backlog across schools, colleges, hospitals, and courts, and ensuring that public services are safe, resilient, and future-ready.
This long-term strategy is built on a framework of efficient funding, data-driven planning, and sustained public investment. The government will allocate £9 billion in the first year, with the annual investment increasing to over £10 billion by 2034–35. Designed to reverse the decline caused by years of underinvestment, the strategy prioritises upgrading essential public facilities while delivering wider economic and social benefits across the UK. It also includes the full adoption of recommendations from the James Stewart Review on HS2, signalling a shift in how infrastructure projects will be governed and executed moving forward.
In an official press release, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves highlighted the strategy’s broader ambition to drive national renewal. She stated, “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 funding will be distributed across core sectors. In healthcare, more than £6 billion per year will be invested to create safer, modern hospital environments, with the aim of reducing waiting times, improving patient outcomes, and providing better working conditions for NHS staff. The removal of RAAC concrete and mitigation of critical infrastructure risks are also key priorities. In education, annual maintenance funding will rise to nearly £3 billion, enabling the development of high-quality, inclusive learning environments. For the justice sector, at least £600 million per year will be directed toward improving the safety and functionality of prisons and courts, reducing backlogs and supporting rehabilitation efforts.
The strategy also introduces a shift toward preventative maintenance over reactive repairs. This approach is expected to provide better value for taxpayers, minimise unplanned closures, and ensure continuity of essential services. It supports national goals such as reducing barriers to education and building an NHS capable of meeting future demands.
Oversight and coordination will be led by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), which will work in alignment with devolved governments to deliver a unified infrastructure agenda. Becky Wood, Chief Executive Officer of NISTA, emphasised the importance of long-term planning. She 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."
To support long-term certainty, public infrastructure capital funding will grow in line with inflation beyond the current Spending Review period. The government believes this will strengthen British supply chains, create high-skilled jobs, and provide the financial stability required for planning and delivering complex infrastructure projects at scale.
With this strategy, the UK sets a clear course for modernising its infrastructure and unlocking sustainable growth. By prioritising investment in public services and adopting a forward-looking approach, the government aims to ensure that the country’s infrastructure can meet the needs of future generations.
