Silvertown Tunnel: Landmark Project Demonstrates Public Private Partnership success

Aberdeen Investments, a leader in infrastructure investment, today comments on the opening of the Silvertown Tunnel, London, in which it is the largest shareholder of the Riverlinx consortium who will be operating the new tunnel for the next 25 years.

Aberdeen Investments believes this landmark development redefines transport infrastructure procurement in the UK by fostering collaboration between public and private sectors, days after the UK Government launches the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA). 

The Silvertown Tunnel is one of the UK’s most significant privately financed infrastructure projects in recent years, demonstrating that public private partnerships are able to deliver complex infrastructure schemes effectively.

Aberdeen’s involvement underscores the crucial role of private capital in delivering complex public infrastructure efficiently and sustainably. By assuming construction, operational and financial risks, private sector partners like Aberdeen enable public authorities to achieve transformative projects without upfront taxpayer funding while maintaining high performance standards.

The opening of the tunnel, on time, coincides with the five-year anniversary of the global lockdown, with HS2 putting additional pressure on labour and resource availability, and during a rising rate environment. It is also set against a significant decline in delivery of infrastructure projects in England since 2018, and last week’s Government launch of the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority which emphasised the need for speed.

Sameer Amin, Managing Partner of Concession Infrastructure at Aberdeen Investments, commented: “The Silvertown Tunnel is a testament to how private finance can drive resilient infrastructure that benefits communities and economies. We are proud to contribute to this vital project, which aligns with our commitment to sustainable investments that generate long-term value. Completing the construction on time is a significant achievement, reflecting the collaboration and expertise of all parties involved. As a result, we’re confident the project finance model can be replicated successfully going forwards.”

Aberdeen believes the Silvertown Tunnel is a successful case study for the project finance model.

Aberdeen is committed to investing in essential social and economic infrastructure across sectors including transport, healthcare, energy transition, and digital connectivity, reinforcing its position as a trusted partner in delivering sustainable infrastructure for the long-term.

Connecting Silvertown in east London to the Greenwich Peninsula, it will alleviate pressure on the nearby heavily congested Blackwall Tunnel, improve journey times as well as making them more reliable, and support economic growth. It will also radically improve bus services in the area, helping to increase the number of buses which cross the river at this location from 6 to 21 per hour, with the capacity for more to be added in future years as wider regeneration occurs.

The project has a construction cost of c.£1 billion under a Design, Build, Finance, Maintain (DBFM) contract with Transport for London (TfL) for a 25 year operational term. The construction of the 1.4km tunnels involved a UK engineering-first as the tunnel boring machine, having bored one tunnel, was turned around in a rotation chamber to bore the adjacent tunnel.

Media enquiries

Jemma Jackson
Head of Campaigns and Media, Aberdeen
jemma.jackson@aberdeenplc.com
07776 204 610

Rachel Cashmore
Senior Manager, Media Relations: Adviser and Investments, Aberdeen
rachel.cashmore@aberdeenplc.com
07341 703 358

Notes to editors

About Aberdeen Investments

• Aberdeen are focused on growing our direct and advised wealth platforms and repositioning our specialist asset management business to meet client demand. We are committed to providing excellent client service, supported by leading technology and talent.
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