Spotlight: Grid connections, opposition to data centre development and conference season begins

This week saw Prime Minister Andy Burnham make his first major Commons statement. Focused on grid connection delays, infrastructure gaps and high energy costs, Burnham clearly signalled that infrastructure delivery will be at the centre of his government’s economic agenda, while not forgetting to include his repeated aim to expand social housing stock.

Meanwhile, the Government continues to press ahead with planning reform. Following the publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook intends to streamline decision-making and support development around transport hubs.

Taken together, it adds up to a Government increasingly focused on delivery and growth. But can these reforms translate into quicker decisions, faster connections and actual project delivery?

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‍Spotlight on next week

Next week is set to be another key week across politics and the energy, infrastructure and development sectors, and for us at Luminate.

The week ahead:

• Chancellor John Healey is expected to deliver his first major speech since taking office on 7 September, outlining the government's approach to reviving UK economic growth. The address is expected to focus on the government's broader economic vision, rather than specific spending commitments, ahead of the 28 October Budget. The speech is anticipated to emphasise growth, regional economic empowerment, and plans to give local leaders greater control over economic development.

• With Parliament back from recess, there are a number of relevant debates and committee sessions taking place over the coming week, including Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Oral Questions, with Angela Rayner taking questions on housing and planning. The Transport Committee will also be meeting to scrutinise the draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement.

• Party conference season begins today with Reform in Birmingham. Make sure you follow us for all the latest news and analysis on all the major parties throughout conference season.

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‍This week’s headlines:

ENERGY

TOP STORY: 📰 Andy Burnham targets grid delays and infrastructure gaps in reindustrialisation push | Logistics Manager

Andy Burnham has set out plans for a more regionally focused approach to infrastructure gaps and reindustrialisation. The intervention highlights growing consensus that grid issues are holding back the sector, and that energy infrastructure is now being viewed as a major economic priority.

We’ve also been reading:

✒️ Scottish offshore wind jobs and investment ‘at risk’ from UK energy plan | Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce

✒️ Capacity Market: changes for Prequalification 2027 | Open consultation from Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

📰 Foreign investment in UK energy projects halves in a year | The Telegraph

📰 UK is second best European market for energy investment | Solar Power Portal

📰 UK solar installations approach 172,000 in 2026 | Solar Power Portal

📰 RenewableUK: UK onshore wind project pipeline reaches 50 GW milestone | Energy Global

📰 Onshore Wind 2026: Scotland sounds alarm | renews

📰 Britain’s 10GW wind surge raises curtailment and negative-price risk | Recharge  

📰 Plug-in solar hits the shelves across the UK | Energy Live News  

📰 Reform's Richard Tice says UK must adapt to changing climate | BBC News

📰 Kemi Badenoch moves shadow Scotland Secretary in Conservative reshuffle | The Scotsman  

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INFRASTRUCTURE

TOP STORY: 📰 UK’s Green Party demands data center ‘pause’ | Politico

The rapid expansion of data centre development in the UK is attracting increasing political scrutiny. While opposition remains far lower than in the US, concerns over energy use, land requirements and local impacts are becoming more prominent, with the Green Party recently becoming the first major UK party to call for a pause on further data centre development. This comes as Construction News has reported that over £100bn of data centre developments are proposed in the UK currently.

We’ve also been reading:

🗣 Looking for Growth Launches Petition for Edinburgh Tram Extension | Looking For Growth

📰 Heathrow expansion 'a risk we cannot afford to take', says mayor | BBC News

📰 Water UK calls for greater consistency in cost-of-capital rules | Water Magazine

📰 Birmingham flash floods underline need for surface-first approach to urban drainage, specialist warns | New Civil Engineer

📰 Ofgem data centre reforms may change UK energy infrastructure | EnergyVoice

️📰 More than £100bn of data centre construction planned in UK | Construction News

📰 London’s Tube finally escapes its mobile blackout | Financial Times

📰 Train drivers secure 3.6% pay rise after threat of strikes on busy UK routes | The Guardian  

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DEVELOPMENT

TOP STORY: ✒️ Revised National Planning Policy Framework and further planning reform measures | Written statement from Matthew Pennycook, Minister of State for Housing and Planning

Following the recent publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), Minister of State for Housing and Planning Matthew Pennycook has made a Written Ministerial Statement setting out the Government's wider package of planning reforms aimed at accelerating housing delivery and supporting economic growth.  

We’ve also been reading:

✒️ The Social and Affordable Homes Programme and the reinvigoration of council housebuilding | Written statement from Matthew Pennycook, Minister of State for Housing and Planning

🗣 Mind the density gap: How Britain’s big cities can build more homes near train stations | Centre for Cities

📰 ‘A pretty bold swing’: New NPPF ushers in an era of permissive, nationally-led planning policy but could be scuppered by viability crisis  | Building (paywall)

📰 Building new homes generates £60bn of community investment | HBF

📰 Planning staff shortages worsen despite Government reforms, further delaying housing delivery | HBF

📰 Biodiversity Net Gain having positive impact on planning | pbc today