Skip to main content
Local Government East home Local Government East home
  • Members Login
  • About us

    About us

    We're here to provide a range of services to support our member authorities across the East of England.

    Who we are Meet the Team News and Publications How We're Governed Work For Us
    Contact us Annual Report 2024/25
  • Consultancy / training

    Consultancy / training

    We provide consultancy and training services across our member authorities and the wider public sector.

    Talent Bank Together in Equity
  • Events

    Events

    We're here to provide a range of events, virtual, and in person, to our member authorities and a comprehensive commercial event management service.

    Upcoming Events Past Events Event Management Service Event Booking and Cancellation Policy
  • Our services

    Our services

    We support our member authorities with policy and advocacy. We are a Regional Employers Organisation, supporting our members with advice and guidance. We're here to support our member authorities through Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution.

    Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution Policy and Advocacy People and Employer Services Local Government Essentials East
  • Strategic Migration Partnership

    Strategic Migration Partnership

    We're here to ensure that the East of England can maximise the benefits of migration.

    What we do Refugees Asylum Seekers Hong Kong Hub
    Migrant workers Employability for Overseas Nationals (EON) Unaccompanied Minors
  • Search
  1. Home
  2. News and Publications
  3. Infrastructure Strategy welcome – but more focus on the East of England needed to ensure the region meets its potential.

News

Infrastructure Strategy welcome – but more focus on the East of England needed to ensure the region meets its potential.

Published on 20 June 2025

The Infrastructure Strategy, published on 19 June, confirmed some key announcements for the region, and set out how the government will continue to invest. They will look to judge infrastructure on how it links into the UK’s industrial strategy objectives, and on a spatial model so that regions get a full infrastructure portfolio to support their local objectives.

The recognition of the role that local authorities currently play, enhanced by future Devolution, is most welcome. Furthermore, the confirmation of key infrastructure projects, such as Sizewell C, East West Rail, and the largest allocation of schools to be constructed of any English Region through the School Rebuilding Programme, is also welcome.

More generally, the funding announced for the 10-year floods investment programme, consisting of £7.9 billion between 2026/27 – 2035/365 is a welcome boost for coastal and low-lying areas, of which the East has many.

As the Infrastructure Strategy sets out the importance of growth, it is increasingly clear that the whole of the UK would benefit from key investment in the East of England. According to our landmark report, Opportunity East, investment in our region is considerably lower than the national average, and yet we are strongly overrepresented in key sectors that the Government is keen to promote. Therefore, investment in our region is investment in the whole country, driving growth, boosting productivity and creating regional inclusive prosperity.

However, the report remains silent on key infrastructure needed by both the region, and the whole of the UK. Further announcements around Ely and Haughley are urgently needed as a key part of the UK’s future freight rail network. Furthermore, a greater focus on understanding the potential of extending East West Rail to Norwich and Ipswich to boost the economy of the entire of the East would be welcome,

Within the Infrastructure Strategy, the government confirms that a more formal pipeline of projects will be published in July. We look forward to this publication, and for further details of what we can expect funded in the East of England.

Cllr Graham Butland, Chair of Local Government East and Leader of Braintree Council, said:

“Infrastructure development in the East is crucial for sustainable growth, crucial for housing, and crucial for the wellbeing of our residents. We look forward to hearing more about the Government’s planned infrastructure itinerary in the upcoming Infrastructure Pipeline.”

The voice of our members and our region

Visit us

Local Government East,
West Suffolk House,
Western Way,
Bury St Edmunds,
Suffolk IP33 3YU

About

  • About us
  • Contact us

Policies

  • Privacy Policy
  • Climate Change Statement

Local Government East is the operating name of the East of England Local Government Association, which is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales under number 465456 and number 10987975

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube