Welcome to the latest edition of the Friday Feed, our rundown of this week’s construction news
🚉 Rail
Barhale has secured approval for further utilities works at HS2 Euston, including major water and sewer diversions. In Scotland, £342m has been committed to electrify the Fife and Borders railway lines, a major step in decarbonising services. The investment will also support the procurement of 69 new electric trains, improving reliability and reducing emissions across the network. Lastly, Reform UK’s deputy leader told contractors “not to bother” bidding for Northern Powerhouse Rail contracts, despite government signals that Labour may back the project this autumn.
🚢Ports and Aviation
Peel Ports has announced a £100m logistics expansion, including an immediate £32m investment in new warehousing at the Port of Liverpool. Across the Irish Sea, the Port of Waterford has submitted plans to establish a new offshore wind hub following recent Maritime Area Consent. Meanwhile, South Yorkshire leaders have approved £160m funding to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport, with freight flights planned for 2027 and full passenger services by summer 2028.
⚡Energy
Britain’s grid recorded its cleanest three months on record, with analysis from Imperial College London and Drax showing record sunshine driving rapid decarbonisation, and suggesting the government’s 2030 clean power mission is within reach. In Yorkshire, the Thorpe Marsh battery storage project has secured £1bn investment, taking it one step closer to becoming the UK’s largest battery storage plant; enough to power over 785,000 homes. In the wind sector, Cerulean has filed consent for its 1GW Aspen offshore wind project off the coast of Scotland. The wind farm is expected to create 1,000 jobs and attract £10.9bn investment over its 50-year lifespan. Onshore, RWE has submitted a planning application for the 59MW Gaerwen wind farm in North Wales. Meanwhile, Nadara has proposed repowering the Beinn Ghlas wind farm in Scotland, boosting capacity from 8.4MW up to 40MW.
🚗 Roads
Costain has received development consent for the £138m upgrade of Simister Island, the junction linking the M60, M62 and M66 in Greater Manchester. In Cumbria, £900,000 in National Highways funding has been allocated for the Workington Gateway scheme, part of a £33m town centre regeneration project. Elsewhere, a £1.9m programme has been announced in Longton to improve streets and local transport links.
🏠Property and development
Steve Reed has been appointed housing secretary, succeeding Angela Rayner. In Manchester, Sir Robert McAlpine has been selected to deliver the £450m Therme resort at TraffordCity, which will feature the UK’s largest sauna, botanical gardens and wave pool. Dorchester Living has submitted plans for 9,000 homes on the former RAF Upper Heyford base in Oxfordshire, making it the largest town development in the UK. Meanwhile, in Bristol, Watkin Jones has been given the green light for a 322-bed purpose-built student accommodation scheme in Temple Quarter, which will also include new commercial space at ground level.
💧Water
South West Water has invited contractors to register interest in its proposed £1bn Cheddar 2 Reservoir project, which would include a 8,200-megalitre reservoir, a treatment facility, and 75km of new pipeline. Northumbrian Water has also hit a major milestone in its £3.6bn AMP8 programme, with work advancing on a £4.2m upgrade at Stressholme Sewage Treatment Works. In addition, Ofwat has launched the first wave of its £50m Water Innovation Challenge under AMP8. This fund is designed to support projects that tackle some of the sector’s biggest challenges, including reducing pollution, addressing leakage, improving climate resilience, and restoring nature.
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