National Highways unveils plans for £14.5bn Scheme Delivery Framework 2

National Highways has outlined plans for a Scheme Delivery Framework 2 (SDF2), worth £14.5bn over eight years.

The new procurement framework will run from 5 March 2027 to 2035.

It is intended to replace the current Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF) and Pavement Delivery Framework (PDF) and will allow National Highways to ‘deliver network improvements’ across the strategic road network.

The framework will cover 'renewals and small improvements across the network, including substantial civil and structural works, pavement, barriers and drainage, traffic management activities and design services for a range of projects'.

The previous SDF ran for six years from 2021 and was worth £3.6bn – which is significantly lower than the new SDF2 budget but does not include the budget for PDF. 

National Highways stated that ‘SDF has successfully facilitated numerous projects, and [they] are now preparing to develop the replacement to further improve the SRN.’

The publication of the tender notice is expected to go live on 22 January 2026.

Image credit: Shutterstock @Alasdair Jones