Spotlight: Sizewell C, Major Water Reform and Infrastructure Targets

ENERGY

📰 Ofgem previews network charging reform vision | renews

📰UK to ease planning rules for fusion projects | World Nuclear News

📰NESO urged to extend grid connections deadline further | reNews

✒️ Nigel Topping CMG appointed Chair of the Climate Change Committee | News from Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Ed Miliband MP

✒️ Jobs unlocked as first wave of hydrogen projects sign contracts | Press release from Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Sarah Jones MP

✒️ Sizewell C gets green light with final investment decision | Press release from Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Rachel Reeves MP and Ed Miliband MP

🗣️ Great British Energy: Nuclear Development | House of Lords debates

📰 UK Raises Wind Power Strike Prices: Boosting Renewable Energy | Discovery Alert

🗣️ Energy: how new EU regulatory developments can change the investment case for clean energy, increase availability of low carbon energy, improve grid infrastructure, reduce energy prices, and drive industrial electrification to boost resilience | Deloitte UK

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INFRASTRUCTURE

✒️ Infrastructure Pipeline kicks off new era of infrastructure delivery | Press release from National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority and Darren Jones MP

📰UK launches major infrastructure database tracking progress on more than 700 projects | The Chemical Engineer

📰 Political earthquakes beneath UK’s infrastructure plans | The Financial Times (paywall)

📰 Regional delivery key to meeting UK construction and infrastructure targets | Planning, Building & Construction Today

✒️ Roadmap to rebuild trust in water sector unveiled in major new report | Press Release from the Independent Water Commission

🗣️ Independent Water Commission debate | House of Commons

📰 Water review: the recommendations already accepted – and what happens next | EndsReview

📰 Water ombudsman to be created amid sweeping changes in England and Wales | The Guardian

📰 Water sector hails ‘long overdue’ Ofwat abolition and proposed reforms to ‘broken’ system | New Civil Engineer (paywall)

🗣️Boosting growth by removing barriers to digital infrastructure deployment | Department for Science, Innovation and Technology written statement

📰 OpenAI and UK sign deal to use AI in public services | BBC News

📰 The Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a consultation on its plans for regulating future self-driving taxi, private-hire and bus-like services | Highways Magazine

📰 East Midlands rail projects highlighted in new Infrastructure Pipeline | East Midlands Business Link

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DEVELOPMENT

📰 Rachel Reeves defends retreat over planning bill as tactical move to speed up reforms | Financial Times (paywall)

📰 Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Government moves to tighten nature protections - but do amendments 'still fall short'? | Business Green

📰 Labour has given in to the blockers on planning reform | CityAM

📰 Badenoch and Cleverly attack Labour housing record after Tory reshuffle | The Independent

📰 New town developments could advance amidst local objections | Local Gov

📰 Pennycook: Resident resistance won't stop new towns | The MJ

✒️ Getting first-time buyers onto the housing ladder - Housing Committee launches inquiry on the affordability of home ownership | Press release from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

🗣️ NALC is disappointed at the government's decision to axe funding for neighbourhood planning | National Association Of Local Councils

🗣️ The sharp end of the housing crisis is in cities. Will the Government’s plan help? | Centre for Cities

📰 £2.7bn in Development Opportunities In England | Property Notify

📰 Fiscal devolution could unlock £4.4 billion for England’s counties | Public Sector News

✒️ MHCLG annual report and accounts 2024 to 2025 | Report from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government