21 massive developments happening in the UK right now – including a major new road
Tens of thousands of people will benefit from cleaner energy, quicker commutes to work and more flights for holidays after the government fast-tracked decisions on major infrastructure projects.
The government says it has green-lit the largest number of major infrastructure projects in the first year of a Parliament in history, with 21 major infrastructure planning decisions made in the government’s first year.
Projects greenlighted include the Lower Thames Crossing, Mona Offshore Windfarm, Simister Island development in the Manchester area and the expansion to Gatwick airport.
This new record of 21 decisions eclipses the previous Parliament’s first-year record of 15 and marks a significant milestone for this government’s ambition to make 150 decisions. The previous government saw a total of 57 decisions during its full term between December 2019 to May 2024.
A further four decisions have been made by the government in its second year, bringing the current total to 25, with a further 10 projects currently on the table. This historic progress means Britain is building the roads, railways and energy connections needed to help towns and cities grow and local economies thrive.
Some of the major developments which are in the works include:
- The Lower Thames Crossing will drive growth by tackling congestion that costs the UK millions every year and create a strategic new trade route between the ports of the south-east, midlands and north. Construction will support 22,000 jobs across the area and once completed it is projected to provide £200 million a year from better connections and less congestion.
- The Mona Offshore Wind Farm located in the Irish Sea and the Rampion 2 Offshore Wind Farm located off the Sussex coast, which combined can produce enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of nearly 3 million homes.
- The Viking CSS Pipeline in Lincolnshire which could support 20,000 jobs and boost the decarbonising industry in the Humber, creating opportunities for local people.
- The M60/M62/M66 Simister Island development, three miles south of Bury, which will make commuting quicker for more than 90,000 people every day.
- Gatwick Airport’s application to expand its operations through routine use of its existing northern runway after the Transport Secretary issued a letter (21 September) confirming her approval following careful consideration.
The full list of developments is as follows:
List of approved major infrastructure projects so far include:
- Gate Burton Energy Park
- Mallard Pass Solar Project
- Sunnica Energy Farm
- Cottam Solar Project
- Bramford to Twinstead
- Immingham Eastern Ro-Ro Terminal
- Rivenhall IVMF and Energy Centre
- Heckington Fen Solar Park
- West Burton Solar Project
- Immingham Green Energy Terminal
- North Lincolnshire Green Energy Park
- Lower Thames Crossing
- London Luton Airport Expansion
- Rampion 2 Offshore Wind Farm
- Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant
- Viking CCS Pipeline
- East Yorkshire Solar Farm
- M5 Junction 10 Improvement Scheme
- Oaklands Farm Solar Park
- Mona Offshore Windfarm
- Byers Gill Solar
- Morgan Offshore Wind Project
- M60/M62/M66 Simister Island
- London Gatwick Airport Expansion
“We are backing our builders, brickies and businesses to get Britain building. We’ve already said yes to major projects that will create more well-paid jobs providing clean power and new roads,” said Housing Secretary Steve Reed
“We will go further to streamline planning rules to speed up new homes, data centres and businesses that will put an affordable home and well-paid job within reach of people in every part of our country.”
