Spotlight: Ofgem-backed ‘super-battery’ projects, record approvals for major infrastructure and a new checklist for local plan examinations

ENERGY

📰 Energy bill payers to back 'super-battery' projects | Sky News

📰 ‘Super battery’ schemes will store green power and save consumers money – Ofgem | The Independent

📰 National Grid DSO launches largest long-term flexibility tender | Energy Live News

📰 Solar Energy UK CEO delivers a broadside against Reform UK on its opposition to renewable energy | Renewable Energy Magazine

📰 gridX conducts survey to examine consumer willingness to use smart energy solutions | Renewable Energy News

📰 Global investment in renewable energy up 10% on 2024 despite Trump rollback | The Guardian

📰 Solar leaders urge EU to strengthen support for European manufacturing | Solar & Storage Extra

📰 OnPath commits to £1bn UK investment plan | Renewable Energy News

📰 Octopus and Ming Yang partner to supercharge the UK?s path to clean wind energy | Renewable Energy Magazine

✒️ Pioneering carbon capture projects ready for construction | Press release from Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Michael Shanks MP and The Rt Hon Jo Stevens MP

📰 The growing global momentum behind small modular reactors | Innovation News Network

📰 Nuclear jobs boom with 3,000 needed for new reactors | Energy Live News

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‍ INFRASTRUCTURE

📰 Building's Funding the Future report calls for ambitious expansion of public private partnerships to rebuild UK infrastructure | Building

📰 What consultants want from the government to get construction really moving | Building

📰 UK fast-tracks record number of major infrastructure projects | Public Sector News

📰 Record-breaking number of government infrastructure approvals in Labour’s first year | pbc today

📰 Calls for urgent action at CIOB sustainability conference | pbc today

📰 New construction minister named | Building

📰 New towns programme needs dedicated minister and infrastructure-first approach, say Lords | Building

📰 Extreme weather risks could derail major projects | Energy Live News

📰 Gatwick airport second runway approved by transport secretary | BBC News

📰 HS2 reset accelerator programme launched to boost efficiency | pbc today

📰 John Sisk & Son Chief Executive confirmed as new Build UK Chair | BDC Business

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DEVELOPMENT

📰 Virtual reality helped increase public engagement | Local Government Chronicle

✒️ New checklist introduced for local plan examinations | News story from the Planning Inspectorate

📰 Built Environment Committee releases preliminary findings on New towns programme | pbc today

📰 Davey: Planning hypocrisy charge ‘completely untrue’ | Local Government Chronicle

📰 Reed says planning application slump is ‘unacceptable’ and pledges ‘acceleration package to speed up reforms’ | Planning Resource (paywall)

📰 LRG’s Tim Foreman urges Labour to back ambition with action | Build News

📰 ‘Planning application slump means little chance of meeting national housebuilding target this Parliament’, lawyers and consultants warn | Planning Resource (paywall)

✒️ Factsheet: Nature Restoration Fund | Ministry of House Communities & Local Government

📰 Public sector collaboration key in major London regeneration plan | Public Sector News