New members have been elected to the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Trustee Board and Council following the 2026 membership election, with results confirmed at the AGM on 21 July 2026. The new governance line-up will influence strategic decisions on infrastructure policy, professional standards and investment priorities across ICE’s 95,000-strong global membership. Practitioners should expect the incoming Board and Council to shape future guidance on climate resilience, asset management and digital delivery, affecting specifications, procurement and competency requirements on UK and international projects.

Andy Burnham’s new government is moving quickly on infrastructure, with freshly appointed transport and housing ministers and early policy announcements from the Prime Minister signalling a reset from the previous administration. Early priorities are expected to centre on rail capacity in the North West, upgrades to key inter-urban corridors linking Manchester to surrounding city-regions, and accelerating brownfield housing delivery around existing transport hubs. Civil engineers should watch for changes to funding models, revised appraisal rules for regional schemes, and potential re-opening of shelved rail and road projects.

Planning policy changes in England now give a “default yes” to higher-density housing within walking distance of well-connected train, tram and Underground stations, aiming to accelerate approvals on brownfield and infill sites. Local plans will be required to prioritise station catchments with frequent services and existing utilities, reducing scope for refusal where schemes meet design codes and access standards. For civil and geotechnical teams, this signals sustained demand for mid-rise foundations, utility diversions and rail-adjacent construction methods with tight possession and vibration constraints.