Skip to main content

UK government announces US$60.6 billion infrastructure spending

UK prime minister David Cameron and chancellor George Osborne have launched a year of major infrastructure investment, with US$60.6 billion of spending planned across 200 projects. Many of the projects due to start construction in 2014 and 2015 are key transport schemes, ranging across road, rail, local transport and airport infrastructure as well as flood defence schemes. These include the Mersey Gateway Bridge, Sheffield Lower Don Valley and Exeter flood defence schemes, major roads such as the M6 J
April 23, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
UK prime minister David Cameron and chancellor George Osborne have launched a year of major infrastructure investment, with US$60.6 billion of spending planned across 200 projects.

Many of the projects due to start construction in 2014 and 2015 are key transport schemes, ranging across road, rail, local transport and airport infrastructure as well as flood defence schemes.

These include the Mersey Gateway Bridge, Sheffield Lower Don Valley and Exeter flood defence schemes, major roads such as the M6 J10A-13, Nottingham tram extension, Heathrow Terminal 2 upgrade and Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm, which is currently the largest in construction anywhere in Europe.

These projects are part of the US$60.6 billion of planned investment – US$8.4 billion public investment, US$35.3 billion private investment and US$17 billion in joint public and private investment - in infrastructure across the country that could support over 150,000 jobs in construction and many thousands more in other sectors following completion. This includes the start of a US£64 billion programme of rail spending over the next five years.

In addition, there is expected to be further investment of up to US$25 billion in oil and gas this year.

Related Content

  • Dubai metro - the world's longest automated rail system
    July 31, 2012
    David Crawford reviews the recent opening of Dubai's Red Line. The US$7.6bn Dubai Metro, the Phase I Red Line of which started partial operation in September 2009, will be the world's longest driverless rail system on its planned completion in 2011. With a total length of some 75km, it will then overtake the 68.7km Vancouver SkyTrain and be able to carry over 1.2 million passengers on a typical day.
  • Government blitz on “disruptive roadworks” causing traffic jams in UK
    January 17, 2024
    Consultation may increase fines for companies whose street works overrun
  • Scotland’s new bypass opens
    December 24, 2014
    The new Crianlarich Bypass which opens today will allow through traffic to avoid a bottleneck where the A82 and A85 meet and enable road users to avoid the low bridges in Crianlarich. Local communities, businesses and tourists alike will benefit from reduced congestion on local roads, whilst the wider economy will also benefit by enhancing transport connections right across Scotland.
  • Gearing up for the global electric vehicle revolution
    May 3, 2019
    As transport, communications and energy networks become inextricably linked, policy makers are recognising the implications for our built environment – and the growing electric vehicle market will have a major impact on the world’s infrastructure, says Rolton Group’s Chris Evans