Spotlight: Construction slowdown, mega-data centre approval and public support for renewables

ENERGY

🗣️ Public backs clean power to strengthen UK energy security | Renewable UK and energy trade bodies  

🗣️ UK needs 5GW of offshore wind every year to stay on track for government goals | Offshore Energies UK (OEUK)

📰 Ofgem SIF awards £22.9 million to support UK energy projects | Renewable Energy Magazine

📰 The Energy Independence Bill: From ambition to delivery | PBC Today

📰 Grid connection given strong support for solar farm and battery storage facility | Planning Resources (paywall)

📰 Scotland's New Power Play: How Battery Storage is Securing the UK's Grid | Brief Glance  

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INFRASTRUCTURE

✒️  A decisive shift to power British AI: new £1.1 billion plan to back chip firms, boost computing power and skills for the AI revolution | Press release from Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and The Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP

✒️  Steve Reed approves UK's largest data centre after Slough Borough Council rejection | Letter from the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government

✒️ Railways Bill (Amendment paper) | House of Commons

📰 Network Rail launches market engagement for £125M renewable energy framework | New Civil Engineer (paywall)

📰 Andy Burnham looks at how to boost infrastructure spending within UK fiscal rules | Financial Times

📰 Environment Agency and Natural England reveal progress on planning timeline targets | Business Green News

📰 Investment sentiment in UK infrastructure improving despite geopolitical instability, survey finds | Specification Online

📰 Extra £174m earmarked for ‘spiralling’ bill for Lower Thames Crossing | The Guardian

📰 TfL bids to take over Moorgate mainline with plan to increase Great Northern services | Ian Visits

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DEVELOPMENT

✒️ Mayors meet in York as “devolution revolution” delivers | Press release from Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and The Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP

🗣️ Report from the Built Environment Committee New Towns: Laying the Foundations | House of Lords debate  

🗣️ UK construction output falls at fastest pace for six years | S&P Global

📰 Steel tariffs will delay housebuilding, warns UK construction industry | Financial Times

📰 Building Safety Regulator turns the tide on approvals | Construction Enquirer

📰 MPs call for new definition of ‘affordable housing’ | Inside Housing

📰 England’s poorest areas face deepest cuts to green space under planning law changes, report finds | The Guardian

📰 London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee chair backs plans for Thamesmead new town | Show House

📰 Plans for 10k homes and rail station on Cambridge Airport site | BBC News

📰 Newcore bets £400M on higher education and healthcare | Bis Now

📰 Padel craze drives demand for industrial property | City AM

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