Plans to convert Coventry Airport into a £2.5bn battery gigafactory have moved a step forward after Warwick District Council’s planning committee approved applications covering early enabling works. The scheme, promoted as the UK’s largest battery manufacturing facility, will require full redevelopment of the existing airfield, major groundworks and new utilities to service large-scale process buildings and logistics areas. Civil and geotechnical teams can now progress detailed design for earthworks, foundations and site infrastructure ahead of main construction approvals.

UK regulators have advanced the GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX‑300 small modular reactor through the Generic Design Assessment in record time, signalling strong early confidence in the 300MWe boiling water design. The BWRX‑300 uses a simplified, natural‑circulation reactor concept derived from the ESBWR, with modular construction intended to reduce on‑site civil works, shorten programme durations and standardise below‑grade nuclear island layouts. Rapid GDA progress is likely to accelerate site‑specific geotechnical investigations, deep excavation design and nuclear‑grade concrete specification for potential UK deployments.

Severe bearing deterioration on a major strategic road bridge has been found after going unnoticed for more than 15 years, raising concerns that local authorities lack sufficient in‑house bridge engineering expertise. Inspectors identified advanced damage to key support bearings, with the defect considered potentially critical to the structure’s load‑carrying capacity and long‑term serviceability. The case is prompting calls for more specialist bridge inspectors, better asset management systems, and clearer responsibilities for monitoring ageing structures on heavily trafficked routes.