The government's infrastructure spending plan for the next two decades is being unveiled later.
The National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) includes the government selling off its 40% stake in the Eurostar rail service.
In all, about £375bn of investment in energy, transport, communications, and water projects is planned.
The insurance industry, which has not traditionally been a big infrastructure investor, is also unveiling plans to invest £25bn over the next five years.
RedevelopmentThe Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, told the BBC: "The most important thing we've done as a government is create an environment in which people want to come in and invest in British infrastructure."
But he admitted that the UK had "underinvested... over several decades".
Denying that there was a north-south divide in how spending was being allocated, Mr Alexander said: "There are projects going on in every part of the country."
Previous infrastructure spending programmes have been criticised for slow progress, but Mr Alexander said that of the 646 projects outlined in this plan, 291 had already been completed.
End Quote Chris Leslie Shadow chief secretary to the TreasuryScheme after scheme has been announced to great fanfare, but then little actually delivered"
The NIP projects include:
- a further £50m for a redevelopment of the railway station at Gatwick Airport
- a government guarantee to support finance for the development of a new nuclear power station at Wylfa, north Wales
- confirmation that a UK guarantee has now been agreed for the £1bn Northern Line extension to Battersea in London
- funding for improvements to the A50 around Uttoxeter, in Staffordshire, to start no later than 2015-16
- improvements to the A14 around the strategically important port of Felixstowe in Suffolk
- the target for the sale of corporate and financial assets will be doubled from £10bn to £20bn between 2014 and 2020, including the government's shareholding in Eurostar.
Last month, Eurostar posted a rise in revenues and passenger numbers compared with last summer.
TransportJeremy Blackburn, UK head of policy for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), said the government should prioritise regional transport infrastructure investment.
"The better connected those areas are the easier it is to move passengers, freight, goods and services," he told the BBC.
This would attract investment and help create jobs, he argued.
RICS also called for more investment in commercial and residential property, and reiterated its support for the HS2 rail project.
Simultaneously to the NIP announcement, the insurance industry is unveiling that it will invest £25bn in infrastructure projects.
The decision by insurers L&G, Prudential, Aviva, Standard Life, Friends Life, and Scottish Widows to invest in infrastructure follows changes in European rules pushed for by the UK which incentivise investment in a wider range of assets.
'Vote of confidence'In September, CBI director general John Cridland said the government's infrastructure policy was "faltering" amid fears that it lacked the "political will" to deliver.
Critics have pointed to data showing infrastructure spending falling in recent times, not rising.
But in a speech later, Danny Alexander will say: "The announcement today that six major insurers will invest £25bn over the next five years is a massive vote of confidence in the UK economy.
"It supports the wider £100bn public investment to rebuild Britain over the next seven years that I announced at the Spending Round 2013. Underground, overground, on shore, offshore, wired or wireless, tarmac or train track. You name it, we're building it right now."
'Failure'
However, Labour said that despite schemes being announced with great fanfare, little was being done.
"With the country facing a cost-of-living crisis we need to invest in infrastructure to create jobs, boost living standards, and strengthen our economy for the long-term," said Chris Leslie, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury.
The government's record on infrastructure had been one of "complete failure", he said.
"The Office for National Statistics says that infrastructure work is down 3.7% in the last year, and fell by 10% in 2012.
"Scheme after scheme has been announced to great fanfare but then little actually delivered," he said.
Katja Hall, the CBI's chief policy director, said: "We've been calling for a more focused approach on infrastructure projects and look forward to seeing the fourth National Infrastructure Plan. As ever the devil will be in the detail on timelines and delivery."
She added: "With the majority of national infrastructure projects earmarked to be delivered by the private sector, the insurance industry's £25bn investment is good news."
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