First 100 days: What has Labour accomplished for energy and the built environment?

July’s election vote saw Labour enter Parliament. While Labour’s 2024 Manifesto promised more growth and updated reforms, has the new government’s action matched its words so far? For the built environment and energy sectors, we would argue ‘yes’ – but there’s still plenty of work to do. Here’s what you need to know.

Labour powers up energy sector in first month

Onshore Wind Restrictions Lifted

Within days of the new government, Labour lifted restrictions on onshore wind projects. The previous policy made implementation of onshore wind farms extremely difficult based on local opposition. The announcement from Chancellor Rachel Reeves symbolises a large step forward for renewable energy, supporting the UK’s goal of doubling onshore wind capacity by 2030.

Launch of Great British Energy

As promised in its manifesto, Labour launched Great British Energy (GBE), a public company focused on investing in renewable energy projects. Prime Minister Keir Starmer committed £8.3 billion over five years to GBE, aiming to position the UK as a leader in clean energy.

Solar power furthers reach across the country

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband approved three large solar farms in Suffolk, Lincolnshire, and Rutland, generating 1.35GW of power, enough for 400,000 homes. This approval, reversing previous blocks, signals a boost in the UK’s solar capacity. Miliband also aims to simplify planning rules for rooftop solar installations, though this change is still pending.

Increased CfD budget

The government raised the Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction budget by 50%, allocating £1.5 billion to support new clean energy projects, particularly offshore wind. This move is intended to attract investment and accelerate renewable energy deployment.

It’s time to get Britain building again… And other reforms

Labour’s major milestone in the built environment involves its reform of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and proposal of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. In a nutshell, the bill aims to “unlock more housing and infrastructure across the country and support sustained economic growth”. These areas of growth include:

• Simplified consent processes to speed up timing on large infrastructure projects
• Modernised planning committees to improve the efficiency of processing applications
• Compulsory purchase compensation to strike a balance between new development and the rights of property owners
• Unlocking development sites

Housing: Labour has committed to an ambitious target of building 1.5 million homes over five years. This equates to about 822 new homes per day. If successful, this will be a key driver to addressing the UK’s housing shortage. This plan includes reforms to planning rules to speed up construction and ensure the homes meet modern energy efficiency standards.

Infrastructure: The government has initiated the development of a 10-year infrastructure strategy aimed at modernising the UK’s transport and energy networks. This includes a major focus on building the railways, roads, and digital infrastructure needed to support a growing economy.

Currently, it seems that Labour has hit the ground running. It’s a good start, but the built environment and energy sectors need to see consistent change in order to keep up with the UK’s net zero goals and struggling housing market.

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