• ECC Committee call for radical overhaul of energy network operation
• Fall in UK properties on the market ahead of EU referendum
• DfT considers M25 double deck carriageway
• North Sea wind farms proposed to boost low carbon energy
Property, Planning and Regeneration
Edinburgh takes first place in regional property investment league table
Research by Morton Fraser has suggested that Edinburgh is the most attractive location for property investment in Britain, outside of London.
Coming in at second and third place respectively were Bristol and Manchester with regional investors finding both cities offer attractive opportunities.
Fall in UK properties on the market ahead of EU referendum
Despite an increase in residential property supply nationally, the number of houses being put on the market fell in May, according to data from online estate agent HouseSimple. Regionally, London saw a 2.4 per cent drop in supply while towns in the Midlands saw large increases.
HouseSimple chief executive, Alex Gosling, suggested the fall in listed properties could be down to wavering confidence in the market ahead of the EU referendum.
Former London deputy mayor wins housing endorsement
A former deputy mayor of London who worked for Boris Johnson at City Hall has won backing from a parliamentary committee, enabling his appointment to a top housing role. Sir Edward Lister will be appointed Homes and
Communities Agency chair following the endorsement from the Communities and Local Government committee.
Great North Plan sets out blueprint for Northern Powerhouse
An influential industry body has teamed up with a think tank to set out the Great North Plan – a 35-year blueprint for realising the potential of the Northern Powerhouse. The Royal Town Planning Institute and the
Institute for Public Policy Research launched a joint report, which included ‘Powerhouse Pledges’ from local authorities and businesses across the region.
Transport policy could contribute to health and wellbeing agenda
A new report by the Chartered Institute for Highways and Transportation’s, A Transport Journey to a Healthier Life, has explained how transport policy could contribute to the health and wellbeing agenda.
According to one of the report’s key findings, the local planning system should consider health and wellbeing in decision-making.
Developer Aquind to build £1.1bn Portsmouth to France Interconnector
A project to build a 150 mile electricity cable between Portsmouth and Le Havre is set to double the amount of energy the UK currently receives from France.
Funded by Aquind, the project has already signed a connection agreement with National Grid and could supply enough power for four million homes.
Pessimistic outlook in energy sector, survey finds
Policy uncertainty and a lack of investment are the main challenges facing the energy industry, according to a survey of industry professionals. Energy Barometer, a survey carried out by the Energy Institute, also found pessimism
in the sector about the Paris Climate Change Agreement, with only 30 per cent agreeing it would keep global temperatures down sufficiently.
ECC Committee call for radical overhaul of energy network operation
The House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee has called on the UK to adopt a US-style approach to electricity transmission network operation. The move would see system operation powers taken from
National Grid and given to an Independent System Operator at a national level and giving a more active role to existing District Network Operators.