Today, 23 June 2025, the UK Government has published their Modern Industrial Strategy, setting out a new economic approach to support growth, with plans for 8 high-growth sectors. 

CIHT welcomes the focus on the 8 strategic sectors, especially those supporting green industries and new technologies.

CIHT has long advocated for integrating transport into broader economic and land-use strategies, as outlined in our response to the strategy consultation (Invest 2035), transport is often overlooked in strategic planning in the UK, despite its fundamental role in running the economy and supporting society. 

CIHT highlights that transport needs to be recognised as an essential service and transport infrastructure as a vital capital asset. 

As outlined in CIHT’s manifesto,' A transport network fit for all our futures', a robust transport network is essential to achieving the UK industrial strategy’s core objectives. Having effective and accessible highways, transportation networks and services will stimulate the UK economy, increase employment opportunities, improve air quality, deliver on net zero and improve the health of society. 

The UK Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy outlines how the government plan to remove planning barriers and accelerate infrastructure delivery.

Key announcements include:

• Allowing Gigafactories, laboratories, and data centres to ‘opt in’ to be designated as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
• Reducing the average pre-application period for major infrastructure projects from two years to 12 months.
• Launching call for evidence on expansion of permitted development rights.
• Streamlining processes for judicial reviews. 
• Establishing AI growth zones 
• Implementing 13-week target for decisions made by Ministers on called-in applications.
• Implementing a Nature Restoration Fund (subject to the passage of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill).
• Providing funding for 300 new planning officers.
• Provide long term certainty on UK’s infrastructure needs and delivery through 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy and pipeline of infrastructure projects (to be published summer 2025).  

CIHT welcomes the strategy’s focus on skills, having highlighted the engineering skills shortage in our response to the strategy consultation.

CIHT supports measures to address skills shortages in the UK, such as the Skills Mission Fund and creation of Technical Excellence Colleges.  

In terms of highways and transportation sector announcements, the strategy largely echoed the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, published last week.  

Previous announcements from the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, include:  

• £24 billion of capital funding between 2026-27 and 2029-30 to maintain and improve motorways and local roads across the country
• Delivering major rail projects such as East-West Rail, the TransPennine Route Upgrade, HS2, and infrastructure in Wales, and taking forward work on Northern Powerhouse Rail, as well as renewal and maintenance of the existing network.
• £15.6 billion up to 2031/23 for some of England’s largest city regions to improve transport connectivity via the Transport for City Regions settlements, and £2.3 billion funding for the Local Transport Grant to improve transport connectivity in smaller cities, towns, and rural areas.
• £900 million per year to maintain and improve bus services. Illustrative industry analysis suggests that public investment in bus infrastructure and services can generate returns of up to £4.55 for every £1 invested.
• £400 million to support the roll-out of charging infrastructure across the country, including to facilitate the deployment of zero emission vans and HGVs. 

CIHT looks forward to continuing to work with HM Treasury, the Department for Transport, and engaging with the Department for Business and Trade to implement and deliver the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy UK and the UK Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy.