The UK Government has unveiled a record £92 billion investment in over 50 major road and rail upgrades across England and Wales, aiming to stimulate economic growth, generate tens of thousands of jobs, and significantly enhance journey times for commuters and businesses.
As part of the government’s “Plan for Change,” this funding represents the largest transport infrastructure commitment in a generation. It is expected to unlock 42,000 new jobs, support the delivery of 39,000 homes, and provide faster, more reliable journeys nationwide.
Major road projects will include critical schemes in the North and Midlands, such as improvements to the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine route, the M54 to M6 link road in Staffordshire, and Greater Manchester’s Simister Island interchange. These initiatives aim to alleviate congestion, improve freight logistics, and enhance access to jobs and housing.
On the rail network, significant upgrades are also planned. The government has approved the long-awaited reinstatement of passenger services between Portishead and Bristol city centre, reconnecting communities for the first time in over 60 years. New railway stations in Wellington and Cullompton in the South West, and Haxby near York, will extend the rail network’s reach to thousands more people, supporting access to regional growth hubs like Exeter, Leeds, and York.
The Midlands Rail Hub, the region’s most ambitious rail scheme to date, will receive substantial support. It promises faster, more frequent services for over 50 destinations, expanded capacity into Birmingham, and nearly 13,000 construction jobs. In the North East and Scotland-bound corridors, digital signalling will be introduced on the East Coast Main Line, reducing delays by up to 33% and improving reliability while supporting the creation of almost 5,000 skilled jobs across the supply chain.
These investments are expected to play a crucial role in achieving the UK’s long-term housing and productivity goals. The improved connectivity and capacity enhancements are designed to support the government’s pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes by 2029 and to stimulate regional growth beyond London and the South East.
Blake Richmond, Chief Operating Officer at Resonate Group, welcomed the announcement, stating: “It’s encouraging to see increased investment in the UK’s rail infrastructure, particularly in long-overdue regional upgrades and new connections that promise to bring more people and places into the network.” He added that the success of these infrastructure projects would be maximised by pairing them with smart, real-time digital systems. “By combining physical upgrades with intelligent operational technologies, we can build a rail network that truly meets the needs of a modern, connected Britain.”
The UK’s latest transport investment is framed not only as a response to current bottlenecks and infrastructure gaps but as a future-focused initiative to boost productivity, reduce emissions, and level up regional opportunities. As implementation begins, the focus will shift to ensuring delivery matches ambition, especially as regions anticipate tangible economic and connectivity benefits from the transformative £92 billion plan.
John Phillipou, Managing Director of SME Lending at Paragon Bank and Chair of the Finance & Leasing Association, commented: “Today’s announcement from the DfT is promising news for manufacturing and construction SMEs, as well as regional communities across the UK, presenting a valuable opportunity to stimulate much-needed new housing, regional growth and job creation. As a specialist lender providing finance to thousands of SMEs, many of which rely on a fluid transport network, we see firsthand how critical connectivity is for regional communities and particularly SMEs. These improvements promise to accelerate development and bring opportunities to the areas that need it most. A welcome step forward for the UK’s growth and productivity agenda – but of course the devil will be in the detail, and ensuring SMEs have fair access to contracts and planning processes will be crucial in making these transformational plans a reality.”
