The government has released a revised planning framework for Heathrow expansion, giving further backing to proposals for a third runway at the airport. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed to MPs that the review of the Airports National Policy Statement has been completed, with a new draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement published on June 18. The updated policy supports Heathrow Airport Ltd’s £49bn expansion plan, which was submitted last year. The schem

United Utilities has completed extensive environmental restoration work across the North West, creating and enhancing habitats covering an area larger than 2,200 football pitches. Since October, the water company has overseen the planting and natural regeneration of more than 50,000 trees across over 140 hectares of land in Lancashire and Cumbria. Alongside this, significant peatland restoration projects have been delivered across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria, b

Senior figures behind the Sizewell C nuclear power project have faced questions from MPs over how potential cost overruns will be reported, while providing an update on progress across key infrastructure works supporting the £38bn development. Representatives from Sizewell C and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero appeared before the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee on June 16, where discussions focused on project delivery, governance and financial accou

Stagecoach West has appointed Martin Gibbon as its new managing director, placing him in charge of bus operations across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Herefordshire, Swindon and Wiltshire. Gibbon returns to the region following a previous spell as operations director between 2019 and 2023. He succeeds to the leadership role after serving as managing director of Stagecoach South Wales, where he also held the position of chair of the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) W

National Highways is bringing more than 55 acres of surplus land in Devon to auction as part of a wider programme aimed at releasing assets no longer required for the operation of England’s strategic road network. The sites will be offered for sale on June 23 through BTG Eddisons Property Auctions, forming part of a national portfolio comprising more than 20 lots spread across 15 counties. Among the most significant offerings is a 26-acre area of pastureland alongside the A30

National Highways has outlined the scale of improvements delivered during its major resurfacing programme on the M27, with work between junctions 5 and 7 approaching its final stages. The long-running project, which began in February 2024, is expected to conclude on June 23, when all four lanes in both directions are scheduled to reopen to traffic by 6am. According to National Highways, the scheme has involved a significant programme of resurfacing, drainage upgrades and safe

The Environment Agency and Somerset Council have appointed Kier to continue construction on the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier under a contract valued at £101 million. The project is designed to strengthen flood protection across the area, helping to safeguard approximately 11,300 homes and 1,500 businesses from tidal flooding. It will also protect important local infrastructure and support the wider economic resilience of Bridgwater and surrounding communities. The scheme includes

Scottish transport operator McGill’s Group is exploring legal options following the rejection of its application for government funding aimed at expanding its fleet of electric buses. The company had sought £4.3 million in support to acquire 33 zero-emission buses, a project that would have generated an estimated £16 million of business for Scottish bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis, based in Larbert. The vehicles were intended for use on routes serving Clackmannanshire and f

For almost a decade, Andy Burnham has been synonymous with Greater Manchester's transport revolution. Whether championing bus franchising, integrated ticketing, active travel or the creation of the Bee Network, his tenure as Mayor transformed Manchester from a city-region talking about integration into one that is actively delivering it. Now, with Burnham returning to Westminster following his victory in Makerfield and increasingly being discussed as a national political forc

FM Conway and National Highways have completed a pioneering low-carbon resurfacing project on the M4, demonstrating how alternative fuels, electric construction equipment and sustainable materials can significantly reduce emissions during major highway maintenance works. The project, carried out between Junctions 15 and 16 of the motorway, is believed to be the first scheme of its kind on the UK's strategic road network and included the debut use of JCB's hydrogen-powered 3CX

Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting has criticised the government's decision to announce a £4.5 billion investment in walking and cycling immediately after the resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey, describing the move as a serious error in both political judgment and policy presentation. The comments come amid growing tensions within government over public spending priorities after Healey and junior defence minister Al Carns stepped down over concerns surrounding de

The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) is calling on the Government to provide greater support for local authorities as they work to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the UK. In a newly published policy position statement, the organisation warns that the country's transition to electric vehicles could be hindered unless charging networks become more accessible, affordable and consistent for all users. The appe

Rental e-scooters are set to arrive in Cornwall this week as part of a new trial aimed at assessing whether the vehicles could play a long-term role in the county’s transport network. From 18 June, the scheme will introduce e-scooters in Penzance, Falmouth and Penryn, Newquay and Truro, complementing the existing Beryl e-bike hire service already operating in those locations. The initiative forms part of a wider Department for Transport programme designed to evaluate how e-sc

HS2 engineers are preparing to begin one of the most significant construction phases on the high-speed rail project this summer, with the installation of hundreds of massive roof beams over the M42 near Solihull. The work will create a 300-metre-long twin-box structure that will eventually carry four HS2 railway tracks above one of the Midlands’ busiest motorways, while traffic continues to pass through tunnels beneath. The project marks a major milestone for the railway and

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA), through its transport arm Merseytravel, has unveiled plans for a new £12 million electrical engineering framework designed to support maintenance, infrastructure upgrades and asset renewal projects across the region’s transport network and operational estate. The framework, which is scheduled to run for four years from September 2026 to September 2030, will provide a dedicated procurement route for a broad range of electrical

The government has launched a public consultation on the safety standards that will govern the future deployment of self-driving vehicles on UK roads, marking another significant step towards the introduction of automated transport technologies. Announced by the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), the consultation seeks views from members of the public, industry representatives, road safety organisations, accessibility g