Several sites in Scotland have been flagged as technically suitable for new nuclear power stations in a UK Government-commissioned siting study, despite the Scottish Government’s current opposition to new nuclear build. The assessment focuses on factors such as coastal locations with access to large-volume cooling water, seismic stability and low flood risk, and proximity to the existing 400kV transmission network. For civil and geotechnical teams, the work signals where future detailed site investigations, coastal defence design and grid-connection studies may be requested if policy barriers ease.

Cuts to UK infrastructure spending to fund the £15bn Defence Investment Plan will cause a net loss of 10,200 jobs, according to new modelling by the Transition Security Project. The analysis estimates that diverting capital from transport, utilities and construction projects into defence procurement will reduce employment in civil engineering, specialist contractors and materials supply chains more than gains created in defence manufacturing. For geotechnical and civils firms, the report signals a thinner pipeline of publicly funded works and increased competition for remaining major projects.

Mandatory pre-application consultation for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) is being scrapped by the UK government, which claims this could cut pre-application timelines by up to 12 months. Ministers estimate the change will save promoters around £1bn across major schemes such as energy, transport and water infrastructure that currently pass through the Development Consent Order regime. Developers may gain programme certainty and earlier start dates for large projects, while local authorities and communities will need to rely more heavily on examination-stage engagement and statutory environmental assessments.