Scheme Delivery Framework 2

National Highways Scheme Delivery Framework 2 (SDF2) will play a pivotal role in renewing and enhancing England’s Strategic Road Network (SRN). Covering over 4,500 miles of motorways and major A roads, the SRN is a vital component of the UK’s transport infrastructure, carrying a third of all traffic and two-thirds of freight. SDF2 is designed to ensure this network remains dependable, durable, and safe, while also delivering value for money.

SDF2 builds on the foundations of its predecessor frameworks - the original Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF) and the Pavement Delivery Framework (PDF). With an estimated value of £14.5 billion and a projected 8-year duration, SDF2 represents a significant investment in the future of the UK’s road infrastructure. The framework will focus on renewing and maintaining existing assets, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, standardisation, and productivity. It aims to focus spending on long-term asset improvements rather than temporary fixes, while simplifying commercial models to reduce administrative burden. SDF2 will be an enabled framework to facilitate usage by Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) and Maintenance and Response (M&R) suppliers.

The new framework represents a forward-looking approach by National Highways aimed at delivering high-quality, efficient infrastructure projects that align with the evolving needs of stakeholders and road users. While the SDF has facilitated numerous successful projects across the SRN, the SDF2 is expected to build on this foundation with innovations and improvements that respond to emerging demands in safety, transport and sustainability.

In late 2024, National Highways held an extensive round of preliminary market engagement, consisting of six face-to-face workshops and two online events, designed to incorporate input from the supply chain. The feedback gathered at market engagement informed the development of the SDF2 strategy, and material from the events can be found here: https://highways.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/NationalHighwaysProcurement-MaterialforExternalRelease/EjbLGgLNyFFKiYPsSEatBR4BI28Sv1e4-xZToGq2cfyZ9g?e=3Tx80E

For more information on the operation of SDF2, please refer to the Information Memorandum.