United Kingdom: Government Contracts, Procurement & PPP

The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 introduces England's National Scheme of Delegation (NSoD), fundamentally reshaping how planning applications are decided between officers and committees. With implementation set for October 2026, local authorities face critical constitutional changes, including mandatory delegation categories, new referral gateways, and committee size restrictions that will require comprehensive operational preparation.

Governments across the UK and Europe have announced ambitious infrastructure programmes they cannot fund alone, creating significant opportunities for private capital. As public authorities shift from subsidy-based models to regulatory reform, investors must navigate an increasingly complex web of concurrent regulatory regimes - from merger control and national security screening to data protection and PFI handback obligations - to successfully deploy capital in this evolving landscape.

The UK Ministry of Defence has announced a series of strategic initiatives placing space at the heart of its defence, security and economic growth agenda, backed by £7.8 billion in funding until 2030. These developments include the launch of the UK's first dedicated military space squadron, a comprehensive national space strategy, and significant investment in novel technologies and regional space clusters. What opportunities will these announcements create for businesses, particularly SMEs, in the rap

Major infrastructure projects across the UK are driving significant investment and job creation, from Heathrow's third runway apprenticeship initiative to Universal's £5bn Bedford theme park. Recent developments include strategic contractor appointments, record-breaking revenue reports, and crucial legal guidance on pre-action disclosure for construction disputes.

Recent appeal decisions reveal how planning inspectors are interpreting and applying the newly published National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), particularly regarding grey belt land and Policy S5(1)(j) for development outside settlements. These early determinations demonstrate varying approaches to addressing policy changes and their impact on housing delivery and planning balance considerations.

Last month, Charles Russell Speechlys in collaboration with G3 hosted a breakfast seminar to unpack what the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) really means for UK SMEs.

This week's infrastructure planning update examines the Planning Inspectorate's revised advice following the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, explores Ofgem's proposed reforms to manage the data centre grid connection queue, and recounts how a Harry Potter filming location influenced an electricity interconnector route in Pembrokeshire.

The UK Government's decision to establish the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation represents a critical test of institutional capacity to deliver growth in one of Britain's most powerful innovation economies. With Greater Cambridge facing severe constraints from housing costs, transport congestion, and infrastructure limitations despite strong local planning, this centrally-led Urban Development Corporation model aims to provide the stability, powers, and resources needed to coordinate complex infrast

The September 2026 edition of HSF Kramer's NSIP newsletter is now available. This installment of the newsletter ushers in our new approach to covering the most interesting and topical events...