Spotlight: Reducing delays to major infrastructure, the politics of emerging energy projects and MHCLG's pro-growth package

ENERGY

📰 ‘Increasingly fractured and politically charged’ UK energy sector unites against clean power ‘debate’ | Solar Power Portal

📰 Miliband dismisses anti-net zero ‘noise’| reNews

📰 Ed Miliband approves UK’s biggest solar farm at Lincolnshire site | The Guardian

📰 UK approves 500MW Tillbridge solar farm | renews

📰 UK delays permit call on 480MW Morecambe | Renewable Energy News

📰 Richard Tice has 15-year record of supporting ‘net stupid zero’ initiatives | The Guardian

✒️ Energy Secretary speech to Energy UK conference 2025 | Speech from Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP

✒️ Clean Energy Superpower Mission areas of research interest | Government Mission from Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

📰 Greenpeace threatens to sue Crown Estate for driving up UK energy prices | The Independent

📰 UK reforms to fast-track onshore wind projects | Renewable Energy News

✒️ Government has approved enough clean energy to power 7.5 million homes | Press release from Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Michael Shanks MP

📰 Energy firms complete UK’s first ‘hydrogen blending’ trial to power grid | The Guardian

📰 National Grid consults on Cross Border Connection | reNews

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INFRASTRUCTURE

📰 Consultants press Government on ‘fragmented planning, disparate devolution and outdated procurement’ | New Civil Engineer (paywall)

✒️ Chancellor takes on the blockers to get Britain building | Press release from HM Treasury

📰 Chancellor promises to cut judicial review time for major infrastructure projects | New Civil Engineer (paywall)

📰 UK ministers take control of £10bn Lower Thames Crossing | The Guardian

📰 Arriva enters UK rail infrastructure market with RTS Infrastructure acquisition | Rail Business UK | Railway Gazette International

📰 Water bills to rise further for millions after appeal | BBC News

📰 Does the UK’s focus on AI infrastructure risk the chance of building its own British Big Tech? | Lara Williams, Managing Editor of Verdict

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DEVELOPMENT

✒️ Pro-growth package unshackling Britain to get building | Press release from Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

📰 A hidden housing hurdle: How sewage capacity is stalling 30,000 new homes - and how it could get much worse | Building (paywall)

📰 Rachel Reeves to confirm changes to ‘outdated’ planning system | The Guardian

📰 Government announces late-stage planning bill changes in bid to speed up housing, energy and water schemes | Building (paywall)

📰 Barratt Redrow set to deliver UK's largest net zero carbon housing development | PBC Today

📰 Natural England could be allowed to choose which council queries it responds to under government planning bill amendments | Planning Resource (paywall)

📰 Government announces late-stage planning bill changes in bid to speed up housing, energy and water schemes | Building (paywall)

📰 UK SME housebuilders facing too many challenges, say HBF | pbc today