At a glance
💰 £52.1m released from the Local Growth Fund to Scotland unlocks a £140m programme for skills, business support and infrastructure delivery.
🚆 The 2026–2031 Road Investment Strategy commits over £27bn to the Strategic Road Network, including funding for works on the Lower Thames Crossing.
🏛️ Planning and Infrastructure Act changes coming into force this month remove mandatory pre-application consultation for NSIPs, aimed at speeding up approvals.
🚆 The government’s £725bn, 10‑year infrastructure strategy remains the macro backdrop for housing, transport, energy and social infrastructure investment.
Today’s update: government is pushing fresh money into Scottish regional growth while locking in long-term road funding and leaning on planning reform to accelerate nationally significant schemes. For project sponsors and contractors, the mix of devolved funding, corridor-level investment and lighter NSIP process is sharpening the focus on where and how quickly work will hit the market. Here’s what you need to know to stay ahead today.
Ongoing Stories
🏛️ Returning today, the Planning and Infrastructure Act reforms build on this week’s wider planning and building safety changes, with the removal of mandatory pre-application consultation for NSIPs now positioned as a key lever to shorten the front-end of major project delivery.
Top 5 Headlines
💰 £52.1m Local Growth Fund cash unlocked for Scotland’s regions
The UK government has released £52.1m from the Local Growth Fund to Scotland’s regional leaders, supporting a wider £140m initiative aimed at workers, apprentices, businesses and communities. The funding allows immediate commencement of physical delivery and procurement of supporting infrastructure. For contractors, local authorities and supply chains, this provides near-term pipeline in Scottish regions backed by a clear budget envelope. (Source: gov.uk)
🚆 £27bn Road Investment Strategy sets 2026–31 highways workload
The 2026–2031 Road Investment Strategy allocates more than £27bn to maintaining and enhancing the Strategic Road Network. The plan includes funding for works on the Lower Thames Crossing, reinforcing that corridor as a major civils focus for the coming period. This confirms a substantial multi-year workload for highways contractors, designers and materials suppliers, with long lead times for procurement and mobilisation. (Source: gov.uk)
🏛️ Planning and Infrastructure Act trims NSIP front-end requirements
Changes under the Planning and Infrastructure Act coming into effect this month will remove mandatory pre-application consultation for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. Government expects the reform to accelerate approvals and delivery for major schemes by streamlining early-stage engagement. Developers and promoters of energy, transport and other NSIPs will need to recalibrate consultation strategies while exploiting potential time savings in the consent process. (Source: gov.uk)
🚆 Lower Thames Crossing gains renewed momentum via RIS3
Within the new Road Investment Strategy, the Lower Thames Crossing is specifically identified for funding as part of the 2026–2031 programme. This underpins one of the UK’s largest planned road and tunnelling schemes with a defined investment window. The confirmation strengthens the business case for supply-chain investment around this corridor and signals that enabling works and detailed procurement will stay on the agenda. (Source: gov.uk)
🚆 £725bn UK infrastructure strategy frames long-term workload
The government’s 10-year infrastructure strategy sets out around £725bn of planned investment across housing, transport, nuclear, energy, hospitals, water, schools, prisons, digital and flood resilience. While published earlier, it remains the reference framework for current funding announcements and corridor plans such as the latest roads strategy. For investors and contractors, it confirms that today’s discrete funding moves sit within a much larger, diversified programme of work. (Source: PBC Today)
Also in the news
🚆 The Road Investment Strategy emphasises maintenance as well as enhancement of the Strategic Road Network, signalling ongoing demand for asset management and renewal frameworks. (Source: gov.uk)
🏗️ The Local Growth Fund-supported £140m Scottish programme is expected to channel money into local infrastructure and business support, creating opportunities for regional SMEs alongside major contractors. (Source: gov.uk)
🏛️ The new NSIP planning rules are trailed by ministers as delivering “the fastest infrastructure building in a generation”, aligning with broader efforts to reduce consent times for strategic schemes. (Source: gov.uk)
🌱 Flood resilience is highlighted within the £725bn infrastructure strategy, reinforcing that climate adaptation projects will compete alongside transport and housing for capital. (Source: PBC Today)
💰 The combination of dedicated Scottish growth funding and national roads investment illustrates the continued blend of devolved and UK-wide levers shaping the construction pipeline. (Source: gov.uk)
The Daily Build is written for people shaping the UK’s construction and infrastructure pipeline, from boardrooms to site offices. If this briefing helps your planning or bid strategy, consider forwarding it to a colleague who needs a quick, factual view of the landscape.