Public bodies urged not to leave consideration of form of contract to last minute as Government unveils £9bn investment to tackle infrastructure backlogs

The commitment was made at the unveiling of a £725bn 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy by the Treasury and the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA).

Of the promised £9bn, more than £6bn will be invested in health estates, with the intention of eliminating RAAC concrete and addressing critical infrastructure risks.

A further £3bn will be invested in school and college maintenance, and at least £600m on safety and security in prisons.

Funds will also be spend on enhancing court facilities “to help reduce backlogs and improve access to justice”, the Treasury and NISTA said.

They added: “This strategic investment approach will help break the cycle of deterioration and emergency repairs that has characterised public infrastructure maintenance for decades. By adopting a preventative approach, services will face fewer disruptive closures, operate more efficiently, and deliver better value for taxpayers in the long term.”

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said: “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.”

Responding to the announcements, Mark Manning, partner in the construction team at law firm Ashfords, said: "The Treasury Minister’s pledge of £9 billion per year towards tackling the maintenance backlog of schools, hospitals, and prisons will be well received by many in the construction industry."

He added that the funds spent on hospitals, schools and colleges, and prisons and courts would also be welcomed by key stakeholders and end-users.

Manning said: "To ensure that these funds are converted into remedial works as quickly and efficiently as possible, hospital trusts, local authorities and HM Prison and Probation Service will need to engage as early as possible with its supply chains and consider the most appropriate procurement strategy. Consideration of the most appropriate form of contract to deliver the works should not be left until the last minute in order to get the most leverage from this process."