Industry has given a mixed view of the chancellor's Budget, calling for more action to ensure infrastructure's long-term strategy is delivered at pace.

Rachel Reeves today set out a Budget which she said delivers on the change promised by the government to cut NHS waiting lists, cut debt and borrowing and cut the cost of living.

She said she was determined to double down on the action to grow the economy and create jobs, announcing measures including funding hundreds more planners across England to accelerate the government’s commitment to build 1.5 million homes, extending the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Thamesmead, unlocking thousands of new homes and jobs and investing further in the Lower Thames Crossing.

The chancellor told MPs she is putting money back into the hands of local and regional leaders with £13bn of flexible funding for seven mayors.

Funding for devolved governments was announced - an additional £370m for the Northern Ireland executive, £505m for the Welsh government and £820m for the Scottish government.

And funding was announced to make training under-25 apprentices free for small and medium businesses.

The chancellor welcomed the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce’s report, which has called for a radical reset of nuclear regulation in the UK, and set out plans to deliver recommendations within three months.

She reiterated the development of the UK’s first small modular reactors with Rolls-Royce at Wylfa and also committed £14m for low-carbon technologies at Grangemouth. Wales will also host two AI Growth Zones.

But industry has given a mixed verdict on the statement.

Richard Whitehead, chief executive, Europe and India, at AECOM, said: “This government has previously set out a bold vision for our sector, backed by a long-term strategy and a major national pipeline. The real test after today’s Budget is delivery. The UK still faces slow, fragmented progress and without sharper coordination the ambition won’t materialise.

“Continued support for major schemes such as Lower Thames Crossing and Northern Powerhouse Rail are welcome, but what is needed to ensure success is a shift from policy announcements to practical steps that accelerate how projects get built.

“While the government is adding capacity into the system with the welcome recruitment of 350 new planners, it’s essential that reform translates into faster decisions, with targeted fast-track pilots to demonstrate tangible, measurable success. Government should also adopt an AI-first approach to delivery, using shared national data to reduce risk and speed up project timelines.

“Ultimately, if this is the government’s defining moment, it must act on what industry has been signalling for years and demonstrate that bold plans can deliver infrastructure that drives economic growth and improves lives for communities across the UK.”

Alex Vaughan, chief executive at Costain, said: “The chancellor has provided further reassurance that infrastructure remains a powerful lever for the UK’s growth mission. This is an industry that thrives on predictability and clear decision-making from government. Long-term planning and skills investment are essential ingredients for the successful delivery of complex, fit-for-purpose infrastructure across our water, energy, defence and transportation systems.

 “However, without a dedicated cabinet-level Minister for Infrastructure, the industry is at risk of spinning its wheels. This role at the heart of government would oversee the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy and Infrastructure Pipeline, align policy and funding across departments, and instil much-needed confidence in business leaders wanting to invest in the skills of tomorrow.

“Consistency and continuity from government will unlock the UK’s full infrastructure potential and help create a more prosperous, resilient and decarbonised future.”

Sean Keyes, CEO of Liverpool-based civil and structural engineering consultancy Sutcliffe, said: “The last budget saw a 1.2% rise in employer National Insurance, combined with a £4,100 drop in the threshold and a 6.7% increase in the National Living Wage, represents a significant hit to labour-intensive sectors like construction – precisely the industries expected to deliver the government's ambitious housing and infrastructure targets.

“Firms will have to make difficult choices about recruitment, pay rises will be constrained and some projects will need repricing. For a construction company employing hundreds of people, we're all looking at substantial additional costs at a time when we're being asked to scale up delivery, not scale back.

“You cannot simultaneously increase the cost of employment whilst calling for economic growth – something has to give. The infrastructure investment announced is welcome, but it needs businesses with the capacity and financial headroom to deliver it. This Budget makes that harder, not easier.”

Key announcements in the Autumn Budget include:

• Minimum wage increased by 4.1% from April, with 6%-8.5% increases for younger workers.
• Free under-25 apprenticeships for small and medium size businesses.
• The full abolition of the two-child benefit cap from April.
• Increasing the state pension by 4.8%, committing to the triple lock.
• The 5p cut in fuel duty will be retained until September 2026.
• From April 2028 drivers of battery electric cars will see a 3p per mile tax and 1.5p per mile for plug-in hybrids, with the charge to then rise annually with inflation.
• Additional £200 million to accelerate the EV charger rollout.
• 100% business rates relief for EV charge points for the next decade.