Spotlight: Momentum builds behind the UK's first regional hydrogen network, Government announces landmark deal to restart rail freight traffic through the Channel Tunnel and Homes England opens bidding for its Social and Affordable Homes Programme

ENERGY

✒️ Energy bills coming down thanks to government action, as Prime Minister vows to bear down on cost of living | Press release from Prime Minister’s Officer, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB

📰 UK energy regulator Ofgem launches grid connection overhaul consultation, with data centers a focal point | Data Centre Dynamics

📰 Hybrid offshore platforms could cut emissions and boost clean power by up to 70% | Energy Live News

📰 Curtailment, co-location and the next phase of UK solar | Solar Power Portal

📰 Hinkley Point C nuclear plant delayed to 2030 as costs climb to £35bn | The Guardian

📰 Energy firms unite in bid to create UK's first hydrogen network | BBC News

📰 Energy crisis cost Scottish economy £11bn, study finds | The Independent

📰 Reform mayor courted US oil and gas executive about fracking in UK | The Guardian

📰 UK Government urged to end Energy Profits Levy as Scottish jobs on the line | The National

‍

INFRASTRUCTURE

✒️ Landmark deal paves way for return of regular cross-Channel rail freight | Press release from Department for Transport, Department for Business and Trade, Network Rail, Chris McDonald MP and Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE 📰 Planning reform vital to unlock £50bn of transport investment for London | London Evening Standard

📰 Planning reform vital to unlock £50bn of transport investment for London | London Evening Standard

✒️Unlocking data centre growth in the UK: four recommendations | Press release from AECOM

📰 AECOM calls for sovereign data centre framework to secure UK’s AI and digital infrastructure future | The Energyst

📰 New datacentres risk doubling Great Britain’s electricity use, regulator says | The Guardian

📰 ‘Data centre surge would put UK’s climate targets at risk, plus borough bids to set up station development body’ | Planning Resource (paywall)

📰 British firm GeoPura wins contract to provide Lower Thames Crossing with 2,500t of hydrogen | New Civil Engineer

📰 Why project cargo must be part of Britain’s core infrastructure strategy | Project Cargo Journal (paywall)

‍

DEVELOPMENT

✒️ Homes England opens bidding for ten year Social and Affordable Homes Programme | Press release from Homes England

📰 Government accused of caving in to building lobby amid plans to shake up housing sector in England | The Guardian

📰 Ministers urged to reconsider draft NPPF policy that would ‘stifle the delivery’ of net zero homes | Planning Resource

📰 Northern Ireland house builders warn sewage capacity is holding back 15,000 homes | Inside Housing (paywall)

📰 Ealing Council to flatten 105 half-built homes after Henry collapse | Construction Enquirer

📰 UK construction labour crisis threatens 1.5 million homes target | Health & Safety International (paywall)

📰 Housing sector leaders call for action to fill empty homes | BBC News

📰 Cross-sector coalition demands national strategy to bring empty homes back into use | Housing Today

‍