The UK government has announced plans to allocate £9bn annually for the next decade to address the deteriorating condition of schools, hospitals, courts, and prisons as part of its infrastructure strategy.

Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, revealed on Thursday a commitment to invest a minimum of £725bn over the next 10 years to enhance infrastructure across the UK and achieve a 'national renewal'.

Specifically, the plan includes allocating £6bn per year for hospital repairs in England, £3bn for school and college upgrades in England, and £600m for court and prison improvements in England and Wales.

This funding will be utilized for various construction projects such as replacing deteriorating reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) in hospitals and enhancing safety measures in prisons.

Speaking to MPs, Jones emphasized that when executed properly, the initiative will lead to tangible enhancements in the country's infrastructure, with local roads and high streets revitalized to create even more livable communities.

The strategy also involves allocating £1bn for repairing roads, bridges, and flyovers nationwide, as well as £590m to kickstart the Lower Thames Crossing project. Additionally, £16bn will be directed towards constructing 500,000 new homes through the newly established National Housing Bank.

Richard Fuller, the Conservative shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, called on ministers to disclose which major projects are being abandoned and provide explanations for the decisions.

Business and industry organizations, which have long advocated for a clear long-term vision to foster certainty and stimulate investment, generally welcomed the strategy. However, the online government portal detailing actual projects will not be launched for another month. This project 'pipeline' will be updated biannually.

Alex Vaughan, CEO of construction and engineering company Costain, hailed the launch as a crucial step towards eliminating the short-term focus that has hindered the sector's progress.

Various industry leaders, including Darren Caplan from the Railway Industry Association and Henri Murison from the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, commended the government's commitment to a 10-year strategy and the forthcoming publication of a project pipeline in July. They expressed optimism that this stability would instill confidence in private investors and unlock additional financing.

John Dickie, CEO of BusinessLDN, noted the government's acknowledgment of the necessity for a clear, dedicated, long-term public investment plan to inspire private sector investment.

Sam Gould, director of policy at the Institution of Civil Engineer, described the announcement as a significant milestone, highlighting several positive aspects while also stressing the need for more details on private finance models and strategies to address the challenges posed by climate change.

The infrastructure strategy does not encompass 'megaprojects' exceeding £10bn in cost and taking over a decade to complete, such as the HS2 railway, Sizewell C nuclear plant, and the Dreadnought submarine program.