New Government Strategies for Infrastructure, Industry & Defence

In the Spring Budget 2025, it was announced that the government would be releasing 3 new strategies:

• A 10-year Infrastructure Strategy

• The 2035 Modern Industrial Strategy

• The Strategic Defence Review

These documents have now been released, and we can reveal the highlights found in each.

Highlights from the 10-year Infrastructure Strategy

The government is funding at least £725 billion of economic and social infrastructure over the next decade, including:

• £24 billion of funding for road networks

• £15.6 billion for ‘Transport for City Regions’

• £7.9 billion for the 10-year flood defence programme

• £2 billion for AI opportunities

• 1.5 million new homes

• £9.4 billion for CCUs and £500 million for hydrogen infrastructure

• Development of 9 new reservoirs & 9 water transfer schemes

• Supporting a third runway at Heathrow

• Progressing HS2 and delivering the East West Rail Corridor

• Driving forward work on the Thames Crossing

• Funding for EV charging network

• Funding for 500 school rebuilds

• Funding for 35 new hospitals

• Funding for school & hospital maintenance

• New Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for healthcare projects

• Funding for 3 new prisons

• The development of a publicly owned energy company

This strategy will be supported by a brand-new ‘Infrastructure Digital Pipeline Portal’, which will allow businesses to see the types of opportunities available to them up to 10 years in advance.

Highlights from the 2035 Modern Industrial Strategy

The government aim to increase the UK’s GDP by investing in industrial sectors. Whilst clean energy and digital technology are at the heart of this strategy, they have not forgotten about the manufacturing sector and its essential supply chains that provide critical parts and materials.

Here are some highlights from their funding strategy:

• £14.2 Billion for Sizewell C

• £4.3 Billion for Advanced Manufacturing

• £670 Million for Quantum Computers

• £600 Million 'Accelerator' funding

• £600 Million for Life Sciences

• £500 Million for The Sovereign AI Unit

• £500 Million Local Innovation Funding

• £500 Million Recyclable Growth Fund

It is hoped that by investing in regional growth, green energy, and innovative technology, the UK’s opportunities for international trade will increase and private investment will also become more appealing – creating a snowball effect on the economy’s growth.

Highlights from the Strategic Defence Review

As part of the strategy, a new £11 billion ‘Invest’ annual budget has been established to fund kit on our front-line and to grow our UK industrial base. There will also be £1 billion of new investment in homeland air and missile defence. It is also anticipated that the build of 7000 new long-range weapons will create 800 new jobs.

Other key highlights include:

• Stepping up on European security by leading in NATO, with strengthened nuclear, new tech, and updated conventional capabilities

• Establishing a more lethal ‘integrated force’ equipped for the future, and strengthened homeland defence.

• Driving jobs and prosperity through a new partnership with industry, radical procurement reforms, and backing UK businesses.

• Harnessing drones, data, and digital warfare to make our Armed Forces stronger and safer.

• Widening participation in national resilience and renewing the Nation’s contract with those who serve.

This strategy should, indeed, keep us “secure at home and strong abroad”.

Summary

The more you read into the three strategies, the clearer it becomes that they are very much entwined – arguably making them much more stable and reliable.

Here at RVT, we look forward to embracing all new opportunities that these strategies provide, and would like to remind our customers that health, safety and the environment should always be at the forefront of your mind when working on these large-scale projects.

Click here to learn how RVT Group are supporting Infrastructure projects.

Click here to learn how RVT Group are supporting Industry projects.

Click here to learn how RVT Group are supporting UK defence projects.