The UK government has opened applications for its £25 million Critical Minerals Accelerator, offering grants of £150,000–£3 million to late-stage extraction, processing and recycling projects expected to reach commercial operation by March 2030. The scheme forms half of the £50 million Critical Minerals Programme and sits alongside a new Magnet Hub for rare earth permanent magnet manufacturing and a Demand Aggregation Platform to consolidate offtake. Policy targets include meeting 30% of domestic critical mineral demand by 2035 and reducing exposure to overseas supply chains.

Lane rental schemes in Leeds, Wakefield and Kirklees will charge utility and telecoms companies up to £2,500 per day for works on designated key routes from later this year, targeting peak‑time occupation of high‑traffic corridors and bus priority links. The three councils have secured Department for Transport approval and adopted a single charging framework and common rules, including simultaneous launch, to simplify permits where works cross authority boundaries. By pushing works into off‑peak windows and encouraging joint trenching, the policy aims to cut congestion‑related emissions and improve bus journey time reliability.

Tasmania will modernise and digitise Mineral Resources Tasmania’s exploration and mining approvals system, aiming to unlock more than $1.5 billion in projects currently queued in the state. Premier Jeremy Rockliff wants end‑to‑end online lodgement, tracking and assessment of mining leases and exploration licences, replacing paper‑based workflows that can delay approvals for months. Faster, more transparent permitting is expected to materially affect project timelines for operations such as MMG’s Rosebery mine and new critical minerals prospects.