Spotlight: Reed announces next round of LGR, consultation on draft London Plan launched and North Sea oil debate continues

ENERGY

🗣️ Construction and delivery risk in BESS projects | Solar Power Portal  

🗣️ Britain's next PM must put industry at the heart of the clean energy transition | Edie

📰 North Sea oil industry urges Burnham to approve new drilling in UK waters | The Guardian

📰 UK: Badenoch urges Burnham to stand firm on North Sea drilling | Energy-pedia News

📰 EDF secures contract to extend 1.2 GW Sizewell B lifetime to 2055 (UK) | Enerdata

📰 Grid operator to investigate claims of cover-up amid blackout fears | The Telegraph (paywall)

📰 NESO to investigate interference coverup claims | Energy Voice (Paywall)

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INFRASTRUCTURE

✒ Government major projects demonstrate strong foundations for delivery | Press release from National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority and Lucy Rigby KC MP

✒ NISTA Major Projects Annual Report 2025-26 | Transparency data from National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority and Lucy Rigby KC MP  

📰 UK’s public spending watchdog to investigate Lower Thames Crossing project | The Guardian

📰 HS2 remains ‘Red’ but NPR and LTC upgraded in Nista’s annual GMPP report | New Civil Engineer (paywall)  

📰 Industry Leaders Urge New UK PM To Stick To Existing Infrastructure Plans | Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)

📰 Plan to accelerate nature recovery across England | New Civil Engineer (paywall)

📰 British Steel taken into public ownership to protect 'vital' UK supply | BBC News

📰 £2BN Essex Data Centre hit by grid connectivity delays | The Telegraph

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DEVELOPMENT

✒ 14 more areas to benefit from streamlined local services | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and The Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP

✒ Protecting built heritage | Report from the Culture, Media & Sport Committee  

✒ Expanded support on unsafe cladding for buildings below 11metres |  

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Rachel Blake MP and Samantha Dixon MBE MP

✒ Mayor publishes streamlined draft London Plan to boost affordable housing and support growth, jobs and the economy of the future | Press Release from the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London

📰 LGR decisions delayed in two areas | Local Government Chronicle (LGC)

📰 New London Plan borough housing targets revealed - the councils with the biggest rises and drops | Planning Resource (paywall)

📰 State housebuilder could support sector through troughs, minister says | Construction News

📰 Up to 755,000 new workers needed to deliver 1.5 million homes, NAO warns | Property Week

📰 Plans for new community powered by waste treatment plant approved| Construction Enquirer  

📰 Greystar launches strategy for 20,000 ‘garden-style’ rental homes with Waterbeach purchase | BE News

📰 Judge rules on when planning officers can share drafts reports with developers | Estates Gazette (paywall)

📰 Interim housing ombudsman named | Housing Today

📰 Councils will need to take detailed planning committee minutes under new streamlined appeal process, PINS official advises | Planning Resource (paywall)

📰 URW buys freehold of Croydon Whitgift Centre | Estates Gazette (paywall)

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