Spotlight: Government sets out its vision for a commercial fusion energy industry and doubles funding for the UK's 'Silicon Valley' while next steps for the Northern Growth Plan are unveiled

ENERGY

✒️ Government to go “further and faster” in becoming energy secure | Press Release from Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and The Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP

✒️ Britain to lead fusion energy race to deliver energy security | Press release from Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, UK Atomic Energy Authority, Lord Vallance and The Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP

📰 Firms appointed to build fusion power plant in Nottinghamshire | BBC News

📰 UK Power Networks fast-tracks vehicle-to-grid connections in UK first | Energy Live News

📰Miliband accelerates solar amid Middle East price shock threat | Solar Power Portal

📰 Energy minister: ‘every penny’ levied on household energy bills will be scrutinised | The Guardian

📰 UK energy: about 14m households getting ‘below-average’ service | The Guardian

INFRASTRUCTURE

✒️Oxford-Cambridge corridor to be UK’s “Silicon Valley” | Press release from HM Treasury and The Rt Hon Rachel Reeves

📰 Reeves to double funding for 'Oxford-Cambridge Silicon Valley' | BBC News

✒️London Councils and Mayor unveil new London Infrastructure Framework to drive growth | Press release form London Councils

✒️DSIT's investment in research infrastructure | Report by Gareth Davies, Comptroller and Auditor General at National Audit Office

📰 AI infrastructure and grid reform: what it could mean for life sciences ecosystems | Cambridge Network

📰Infrastructure Unit among new methods to fast-track environmental checks in project consents | New Civil Engineer (paywall)

📰 ‘Defences are under strain’: MPs wade in on UK infrastructure resilience to extreme weather | New Civil Engineer (paywall)

📰 Infrastructure, skills, connectivity and energy security top business agenda at UK–Ireland summit | Business Post (paywall)

DEVELOPMENT

✒️Chancellor backs the North’s industrial strengths with new investments | Press release from HM Treasury and The Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP

✒️Regulation reset to fast-track homes, transport and clean energy | Press release from Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Environment Agency, Natural England and Emma Reynolds MP

📰 Government rejects recommendations on environmental planning reforms | PBC Today

📰 Land Use Framework won't fix UK's problems, CPRE argues | PBC Today

📰 ONS stats for January 2026 show yet another output fall | PBC Today

📰 Real Estate Puts On Brave Face As Iran Conflict Rattles Recovery | Bisnow

📰 County and unitary councils believe government’s planning reforms will weaken local voices and put rural areas at risk | Inside Housing

📰 Cold, damp and mouldy housing thought to be behind 40,000 hospital admissions as UK faces fresh cost of living crisis | The Independent