Engineers have launched the Association for Consultancy and Engineering’s Delivering Infrastructure 2050 manifesto, calling for long-term reform of Welsh transport, energy and water networks ahead of the 7 May Senedd elections. The document presses for a stable 25-year infrastructure pipeline, faster planning and consenting for major schemes, and clearer funding models for projects such as strategic road upgrades and grid reinforcement. For geotechnical and civil practitioners, the proposals signal potential continuity of workload but also tighter scrutiny on whole-life carbon, asset resilience and value-based procurement.

Laing O’Rourke has secured BSI certification to PAS 2080:2023 for carbon management in buildings and infrastructure, confirming its organisation-wide processes for assessing and reducing whole-life emissions. The updated PAS 2080:2023 specification extends beyond linear infrastructure to cover buildings and mandates value-chain collaboration, transparent governance and quantified carbon reduction pathways aligned with net-zero targets. For contractors and consultants, this signals that major Tier 1 clients may increasingly require verifiable PAS 2080-compliant carbon management on design, procurement and construction packages.

The BNG Federation accuses the UK government of breaking its promise to set a clear timetable for applying biodiversity net gain (BNG) rules to nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs), leaving major schemes in a “regulatory vacuum”. Developers of large highways, energy and rail projects currently lack certainty on when and how the statutory 10% BNG requirement will apply, complicating land acquisition, habitat design and long-term management plans. The federation warns that without a defined start date and guidance, DCO applications and environmental impact assessments risk delay and redesign.