The Anonymous Widower

Centrica, X-energy Advance Nuclear Plans As UK Regulators To Begin Design Review For Xe-100

The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Centrica.

This is the sub-heading.

On the one-year anniversary of the Centrica X-energy partnership being signed, the UK Government has directed regulators to accept the X-energy Xe-100 Advanced Modular reactor into the Generic Design Assessment, marking a significant step toward UK commercial licensing.

Under their partnership, the companies intend to deploy up to 6 GW of new nuclear capacity in the UK (10-20 Xe-100 power stations depending on size of each installation)

These first two paragraphs add some details.

Centrica and X‑Energy, Inc., a leading developer of advanced nuclear reactors and fuel technology, today announced that X‑energy’s Xe‑100 Generation IV advanced Small Modular Reactor (“SMR”) has been accepted into the United Kingdom’s Generic Design Assessment (“GDA”) process.

GDA acceptance formally triggers the process of assessing the design’s acceptability for deployment and operation ahead of the technical and environmental evaluations required for site‑specific licensing and permitting. The assessment is expected to take approximately three years and will be administered by the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (“ONR”), the Environment Agency (EA), and Natural Resources Wales

 

To learn more, I asked Google AI for what it knows on the Xe-100 reactor and I received this.

The Xe-100 is an advanced Generation IV high-temperature gas-cooled pebble-bed small modular nuclear reactor developed by the American company X-energy.

Key Specifications & Design

Power Output: Generates about 80 megawatts of electricity (MWe) or 200 MW thermal per unit, and can be scaled up into a four-pack configuration yielding 320 MW.

Cooling System: Uses inert helium gas instead of water to remove heat from the core, reaching operating temperatures above 750°C.

Fuel Type: Runs on proprietary TRISO-X fuel pebbles, where each billiard-ball-sized pebble contains roughly 18,000 microscopic TRISO fuel particles that act as individual containment vessels.

Note.

  1. 320 MW may seem small, but you have to remember Sizewell A was two 210 MW Magnox reactors and it operated for forty years.
  2. I like the choice of helium for a coolant. Especially, as the gas is widely used for cooling superconducting magnets, so there must be plenty of expertise.
  3. Helium is also present in the atmosphere at 5.2 parts per million.
  4. I also like the concept of the fuel pebbles.

These are some of my questions.

Where Was TRISO Fuel Developed?

The Wikipedia entry for TRISO Fuel has a History section, which starts with this paragraph.

Coated-particle ceramic fuels were initially developed in the United Kingdom as part of the Dragon reactor project. During the development of the Dragon reactor, its designers became concerned by the need to purge gaseous fission products from the reactor core and their potential migration to other parts of the reactor This concern led to the choice of coated-particle fuel, where the fuel would be formed from small particles of uranium then coated with pyrolytic carbon. The inclusion of silicon carbide as a diffusion barrier was first suggested by D. T. Livey in 1961, in order to better retain fission products.

Note.

  1. The United States and Germany made contributions to the development of TRISO fuel.
  2. the first commercial reactor to use TRISO, was the 330 MWe Fort Saint Vrain Nuclear Power Plant
  3. The experimental High Temperature Test Reactor in Japan, constructed in 1998, uses prismatic UO2 TRISO fuel.
  4. Japan has the only TRISO-fueled reactor in commercial operation.
  5. Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States, developed the process used to make TRISO fuel.

The Wikipedia entry for the Dragon reactor is worth a read.

These are the first two paragraphs of its Wikipedia entry.

Dragon was an experimental high temperature gas-cooled reactor at Winfrith in Dorset, England, operated by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). Its purpose was to test fuel and materials for the European High Temperature Reactor programme, which was exploring the use of tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) fuel and gas cooling for future high-efficiency reactor designs. The project was built and managed as an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development/Nuclear Energy Agency international project. In total, 13 countries were involved in its design and operation during the project lifetime.

Originally conceived as a small research reactor, during the design phase it grew larger. The choice of helium coolant was made after a long debate within the UKAEA between proponents of helium and carbon dioxide, with helium ultimately selected. Groundbreaking occurred in 1960. It operated from 1965 to 1976, and is generally considered extremely successful.

Who Are The Technology Partners Of X-energy?

I had to ask Google AI this question and received this reply.

X-energy works with major technology, industrial, and energy partners to develop and deploy its advanced small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) and TRISO-based fuel technology.

Key Technology and Strategic Partners

Amazon and AWS: A primary investor (through the Climate Pledge Fund) and customer, Amazon collaborates with X-energy on scaling nuclear energy for data centers and AI infrastructure. X-energy, Amazon Web Services (AWS), NVIDIA, and Idaho National Laboratory are founding members of Project Prometheus to apply AI to advanced nuclear deployment.

NVIDIA: A founding partner in Project Prometheus alongside AWS and Idaho National Laboratory, helping integrate AI accelerators and tools into nuclear design and operations.

Doosan Enerbility & Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP): South Korean industrial partners collaborating to support multi-gigawatt deployments of Xe-100 reactors and manufacture key components.

Energy Northwest: A utility partner working on X-energy’s first-of-a-kind project development in Washington state.

Dow Inc.: Partnered with X-energy to deploy an initial four-unit Xe-100 plant at Dow’s Seadrift chemical manufacturing site in Texas.

Centrica: Partnered through a Joint Development Agreement to deploy Advanced Modular Reactors and pursue up to 6 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity in the United Kingdom.

IHI Corporation: Partnered to expand U.S.-Japan supply chain collaboration and commercial-scale manufacturing for reactor components.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Collaborates with X-energy’s fuel subsidiary, TRISO-X, on advanced nuclear fuel research.

Note.

  1. There are companies and organisations here from Korea, Japan, the US and the UK.
  2. Do Amazon and Centrica see an Xe-100 reactor as a reliable way of powering a data centre without a grid connection?
  3. The Korean and Japanese companies would be ideal to ensure the quality of reactor and other key compoonents.
  4. Chemical manufacturing sites use a lot of electricity and Dow’s contribution could define a widespread use of the Xe-100.
  5. Oak Ridge have been a client of mine in the past and like AWRE in England, I would trust their nuclear technology.

I also believe that if you put these companies in a joint venture, you’ll get out more ideas than you expect.

Who Are The Financial Partners Of X-energy?

I had to ask Google AI this question and received this reply.

Amazon & Climate Pledge Fund: Led major funding rounds (including a $500 million investment in 2024 and ongoing backing) and holds a significant stake in the company.

Jane Street: Led X-energy’s oversubscribed $700 million Series D financing round.

Ares Management: Provided financial backing and funds across multiple investment rounds alongside special purpose acquisition sponsorships.

Emerson Collective: Participated as a key venture capital backer across multiple funding rounds.

NGP Energy Capital Management: Contributed significant capital through multiple financing stages.

Segra Capital Management: Acted as an ongoing financial participant in major capital raises.

Other Investors: Includes ARK Invest, Point72, Galvanize, Ken Griffin (Citadel founder), XTX Ventures, Reaves Asset Management, and the University of Michigan.

Note that like the technology, the finance comes from a wide variety of sources.

This all sounds like a good positive start.

Will Centrica, X-energy Be Going For A Multi-Country Design Review For Xe-100?

There are four major countries with extensive nuclear power experience, with stakes in the Xe-100; Japan, Korea, the US and the UK.

There is also Oak Ridge in the US, which appears to be supplying the concept of the fuel.

If this group can’t convince the regulators in these four countries, that they have a safe and viable project, then they shouldn’t be in business.

Conclusion

It’s now mainly up to the regulators.

Unfortunately, you get stories with titles like this article on the BBC, which have a title of Green Party Leader Criticises Nuclear Reactor Plan.

 

September 18, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Should Number 10 North Have Good Rail Connections To London?

The answer to this question must be Yes! But it must also have good rail connections to the rest of the UK.Heron House

The current Number 10 North is at Heron House, which is shown on this OpenRailwayMap.

Note.

  1. The green lines are Manchester’s Metrolink.
  2. Piccadilly Gardens with its tram stop is in the North-East corner of the map.
  3. The tram lines going South-East from Piccadilly Gardens go to Manchester Piccadilly station.
  4. The tram lines going North-East from Piccadilly Gardens go to Manchester Victoria station.
  5. In the middle of the map, there is St. Peter’s Square tram stop, which are within a five-minute walk to the circular Manchester Central Library and the triangular Manchester Town Hall.
  6. Heron House is on the opposite side of Albert Square to Manchester Town Hall.

Andy Burnham has obviously chosen a location he knows well from his nine years as the Mayor of Greater Manchester.

Long-term there are plans to move Number 10 North to the Manchester Digital Campus in Great Ancoats Street, Ancoats, Manchester,  when construction is completed around 2032.

This Google Map shows the location of Great Ancoats Street with respect to Manchester City Centre.

Note.

  1. Great Ancoat’s Street appears to be part of Manchester’s Inner Ring Road.
  2. Google placed the red arrow, but I suspect Number 10 North could be somewhere near the arrow.
  3. Manchester Piccadilly station is not marked on the map, but is about a 0.8 mile South-West of the red arrow, at the end of the rail line going South-East from the map.
  4. Number 10 North should be about a 5 to 10 minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly station.
  5. Currently, there is no tram running in this direction.
  6. The two stations in the South-West corner of the map are Deansgate in the West and Manchester Oxford Road in the East.
  7. The fourth station in Manchester City Centre is Manchester Victoria in the North-West corner of the map, by the AO Arena and Manchester Cathedral.
  8. Located  between Deansgate, Oxford Road and Victoria stations is a white triangle, which is Manchester  Town Hall, with the current location of Number 10 North at Heron House to its West.
  9. There don’t appear to be any trams on Great Ancoat’s Street, but there are buses between Manchester Victoria and Great Ancoat’s Street, which take about 11-20 minutes.
  10. As an alternative between Manchester Victoria and Great Ancoat’s Street, you can take a tram to New Islington and walk.

This brief look seems to indicate, that to get to Great Ancoat’s Street, you either walk from Manchester Piccadilly or take trams or buses and a short walk from Manchester Victoria.

This OpenRailwayMap shows Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Victoria and New Islington.

Note.

  1. Manchester Victoria station is indicated by a blue arrow.
  2. Manchester Piccadilly station is towards the bottom of the map.
  3. New Islington tram stop is North-West of Manchester Piccadilly on the green tram line to the Etihad Stadium and Ashton-Under-Lyme tram stops.
  4. The Etihad Stadium can be seen three tram stops on from New Islington at the Eastern edge of the map.
  5. Passengers going between Manchester Victoria and New Islington would change trams at Picadilly Gardens tram stop.

I believe that the Future Number 10 North will be within easy walking distance of the New Islington tram stop.

Current London And Manchester Services

Avanti West Cost currently run three hourly trains between Euston and Manchester Piccadilly.

  • 1 train per hour (tph) stops at Milton Keynes Central, Rugby, Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield, Stockport
  • 1 tph stops at Nuneaton, Stoke-on-Trent, Stockport
  • 1 tph stops atStafford, Crewe, Wilmslow, Stockport

I don’t think this gives a wide enough coverage of stations.

Lumo’s Proposed London And Manchester Services

Lumo want to run six daily trains between between Euston and Rochdale.

These will stop at Warrington Bank Quay, Newton-le-Willows, Eccles and Manchester Victoria.

Note.

  1. This could be a fast service, as it is proposed to be non-stop between Euston and Warrington Bank Quay.
  2. It will probably be only five-cars, which would give no problems terminating at Euston and Rochdale stations.
  3. Eccles and Rochdale are in Greater Manchester.
  4. Currently, Warrington Bank Quay, Newton-le-Willows, Eccles and Manchester Victoria don’t have direct trains to London.
  5. I can see this service appealing to thrifty Yorkshire folk, as Rochdale has 3 tph to Hebden Bridge and Leeds, 2 tph to Halifax and Bradford Interchange, and 1 tph to Brighouse and Dewsbury.
  6. It could be a low-cost service.

I can see it being successful.

September 13, 2026 Posted by | Transport/Travel, World | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Trump Vows To Give Every Adult $5,000 If He Wins Midterms

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on The Times.

This is the sub-heading.

At the first-ever Republican midterm convention, speakers called the Democrats ‘communists’ and championed the president’s policies of ‘common sense’

These are the first two paragraphs.

President Trump pledged to issue a “dividend” of $5,000 to every American adult if the Republicans hold the House and Senate in the midterm elections.

Speaking at the opening night of the first-ever Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Trump said the payout — which would amount to $1.35 trillion — had only one caveat: that it should be spent in the United States.

I first read this story, whilst I was recovering in Homerton Hospital, after a fall that appeared to knock me out in my bedroom. I suspect a rug slipped, while I was getting dressed.

Reports of the convention, sound more like that of a Mafia or drug-dealers convention, than that of a supposedly responsible political party.

September 11, 2026 Posted by | Health, World | , , , | 2 Comments

Will A Large Green German Elephant Get Involved In The Clacton By-Election?

Before I start I’ll ask a question.

What Does Farage Think Of Offshore Wind Farms?

Google AI gave me this reply.

Nigel Farage opposes offshore wind farms, viewing them as an unreliable energy source and arguing that they cause industrial decline and impose “intolerable costs” on households.

His specific stances include:

Taxation & Subsidies: He has pledged that his Reform UK party would eliminate subsidies for wind projects and impose a windfall levy on existing wind farms that have received subsidies.

Energy Alternatives: Farage advocates for abandoning “net zero dogma” and pushes instead for increased oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, along with the expansion of nuclear energy.

Environmental Impact: He has criticized both onshore and offshore wind infrastructure for “despoiling our landscapes and seascapes”. His opposition aligns with previously documented discussions with US President Donald Trump, who has lobbied him against wind turbines.

RWE Development In The Clacton Constituency

RWE or RWE-led consortia are developing three wind farms in the waters off the constiuency.

  • 1.1 GW – Five Estuaries
  • 504 MW – North Falls
  • 353 MW – Galloper

Note:

  1. In total they are around 2 GW.
  2. The wind farms are around 30 km. offshore.
  3. RWE are a respected German company, who are one of our largest electricity generators.

I believe that RWE and their partners could receive a lot of opposition to an overhead power line across Essex to connect these wind farms to the National Grid, and 2 GW would not be a small set of pylons.

But although RWE are German, they may have a Plan B.

RWE have been building a big offshore electrolyser in The Netherlands called H2OpZee and I believe that similar technology could be used at Clacton.

  • The electrolyser would be about 30 km from the shore and look like a typical wind farm substation.
  • There would be connections to both the UK and Germany, and green hydrogen would be able to be sent either way.
  • As Germany is decarbonising industry using hydrogen, I suspect that most green hydrogen would initially be exported.
  • But it could attract businesses that needed a lot of green energy to the Clacton area.
  • And Clacton certainly needs jobs.

How would Farage deal with something that would bring prosperity to his constituency, but was against his principles?

 

 

 

July 8, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Hydrogen | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Has The Clacton Constituency Anything To Do With The Offshore Wind Industry?

I ask this question as Nigel Farage, who is the sitting MP has called a by-election.

Before I answer, the question in the title, I will ask Google AI if he supports wind farms.

I received this reply.

Nigel Farage does not support offshore wind farms. As the leader of Reform UK, he opposes them and has pledged to eliminate renewable energy subsidies, impose a windfall tax on wind developers, scrap net-zero targets, and prioritize the expansion of North Sea oil and gas extraction.

Put this alongside the answer to the question I put in the title of this post.

Yes, the Clacton constituency is directly connected to the offshore wind industry through both established infrastructure and future energy projects off its coastline.The constituency’s specific ties to the wind sector include:

Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm: Located just 7 kilometers (about 4 miles) off the coast of Clacton and Holland-on-Sea, this wind farm has been operating since 2010. It features 48 turbines and can be seen directly from the town’s beachfront.

Electrical Connection Points: The Gunfleet Sands Offshore Transmission Owner (OFTO) system connects this wind farm to the UK’s national grid via cables and onshore substations based in the local area.

Five Estuaries Offshore Wind Farm: The Clacton coastline falls within the proposed zone for this massive £1.5 billion project. Jointly developed by SSE Renewables and RWE, the project is projected to power over 400,000 homes, with onshore grid infrastructure and cabling proposed for the North Essex area.

If the right independent candidate stood againt Farage, this could be an interesting contest.

July 7, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy | , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Andy Burnham Promised 10,000 Council Houses. Guess The Tally So Far

The title of this post, is the same as that, of this article in The Times.

This is the sub-heading.

Greater Manchester is a success story but that has little to do with the mayor, still less the economic model he is touting for the country

These are the first two paragraphs.

I don’t like being mean to Andy Burnham. With his soft, doe-eyed features, it feels rather like punching a lamb. But it’s quite an achievement when “We’ve got to get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets” isn’t actually the stupidest thing a politician has said in any given week.

The other day Burnham kicked off his not-quite-a-leadership bid by urging Labour to embrace “Manchesterism”. This he defined as “business-friendly socialism”, in which the state “rolled back the 1980s” by seizing control of “the basics of life”: housing, energy, water, rail. This included borrowing £40 billion for new council housing.

This paragraph from Robert Colville gives the current progress on housing in Manchester.

Burnham did announce, in May 2024, that he was going to build 10,000 council houses by 2028. But over the following year the region started construction on just ten. No, that’s not a typo.

That is not a good start!

June 25, 2026 Posted by | World | , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Will The Real Andy Burnham Please Stand Up!

As I wrirw posts in the next couple of weeks, if I find Andy Burnham has said something about the subject, that is worth adding, I will add it.

June 24, 2026 Posted by | Energy, World | , , | Leave a comment

The March Of The Batteries

One of my Google alerts picked up this story from the Solar Power Portal, which is entitled Gresham House To Acquire 480MW BESS, Completes Financing On 397MW Portfolio.

This is the sub-heading.

Gresham House Energy Storage Fund signed a Sale and Purchase agreement (SPA) for the conditional acquisition of a 480MW BESS project, while also completing funding on a 397MW portfolio that will begin construction.

I asked Google AI, “How Big Is Gresham Houuse’s Portfolio Of Batteries?” an received this answer.

Gresham House Energy Storage Fund (GRID) operates a portfolio exceeding 1GW of utility-scale battery capacity in the UK, with an active pipeline of future and recently financed projects.

Their operational capacity features:

Operational Capacity: Exceeds 1GW (approx. 1,072MW/1,701MWh) across dozens of sites.

Market Share: Owns roughly 17% to 20% of all utility-scale batteries in Great Britain.

Haven’t they done well!

When Will Highview Power Complete The Carrington Battery?

Highview Power is building a 50 MW/300 MWh liquid air battery at Carrington, near Manchester.

I asked Google AI,the title of this section and received this reply.

Highview Power’s Carrington liquid air energy storage facility in Greater Manchester is scheduled to be operational by late 2026.

The grid stabilization phase is set to begin early in the year, with full long-duration operations following shortly after.The £300 million project at the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park is a pioneering commercial-scale “cryobattery” that liquefies and stores air to capture excess renewable energy.

Key details of the completed facility:

Capacity: 300 MWh of storage (delivering 50 MW for six hours)

Reach: Capable of supplying electricity to approximately 480,000 homes

Technology: Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES)

When Will Highview Power Complete The Livingstone Battery?

Highview Power is building a300 MW/3.2 GWh liquid air battery at Livingstone near Glasgow.

I asked Google AI, the title of this section and received this reply.

Highview Power is not currently building a battery in Livingstone. They are developing a major \(2.5 \text{ GWh}\) liquid air energy storage (LAES) plant in Hunterston, Scotland, which is scheduled to come online by 2030.

According to the Highview Power web site, a 300 MW/3.2 GWh “cryobattery” is being built at the site.

How Much Offshore Wind Power Will Be Installed This Year?

In UK Offshore Wind In 2030 – Calculated May 2026, I said that 2635 MW would be commissioned this year.

Conclusion

We’re running hard, but will we keep ahead of the tsunami of offshore wind and solar panels we are installing.

In UK Offshore Wind In 2030 – Calculated May 2026, my latest calculations show that by 2036, we will have installed 61,337 MW of offshore wind alone.

How Many Of Their 300 MW/3.2 GWh Liquid Air Batteries Do Highview Power Think They Can Install?

I asked Google AI, the title of this section and received this reply.

Highview Power plans to install several of their 300 MW/3.2 GWh “Millennium Series” cryogenic plants. They are specifically developing two initial flagship sites in the UK, with the intention to scale up rapidly over the next decade to capture a significant share of national long-duration energy storage targets.

 

Highview Power is executing a multi-billion-pound programme to build out these multi-technology storage facilities, which combine liquid air energy storage and lithium-ion batteries.

The two primary 3.2 GWh projects advancing through the UK regulatory system include:

Hunterston, North Ayrshire (Scotland): Slated as the first of the Millennium Series, designed to provide up to 3.2 GWh of capacity (powering around 650,000 homes).It is advancing through the regulatory assessment and construction phases.

Killingholme, Lincolnshire (England): A second 3.2 GWh facility.

Both the Hunterston and Killingholme sites were deemed eligible for support under the UK government’s “cap and floor” super-battery scheme.

Two 300 MW/3.2 GWh “Millennium Series” cryogenic plants will do very nicely!

Engineering is the science of the possible, whereas politics is dreams of the impossible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 27, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Energy Storage | , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Labour To Adopt Some Of World’s Most Ambitious Climate Targets

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on The Times.

This is the sub-heading.

No 10 moves to lock in sweeping emissions cuts, seeking to outflank the Greens on net zero while setting up a clash with Reform UK and the Tories

What I find strange is that there is no mention of hydrogen in the Times article.

I believe there are certain applications, where hydrogen is essential.

I asked Google AI,”Is Hydrogen An Essential Route To Decarbonise Some Industries?” and received this reply.

Yes, hydrogen is widely considered an essential route to decarbonise “hard-to-abate” sectors where direct electrification is inefficient or impossible.

It acts both as a clean-burning fuel for high-temperature heat and as a vital chemical feedstock.

Why Hydrogen Is Essential

High-Temperature Heat: Certain industries (e.g., steel, cement, glass) require intense heat that standard electric furnaces cannot practically achieve.

Hydrogen can replace natural gas in these combustion processes.

Chemical Feedstock: Hydrogen is required for chemical transformations rather than just energy.

For instance, it is indispensable in the manufacture of ammonia (fertilizers) and methanol.Material Reduction: In steelmaking, hydrogen can strip oxygen from iron ore, producing water vapor as a byproduct instead of carbon dioxide.

Key “Hard-to-Abate” Industries

Iron & Steel: Using hydrogen as a reducing agent replaces coal and coke, potentially cutting up to 95% of the emissions from traditional blast furnaces.

Chemicals & Refining: Clean hydrogen can replace “grey” hydrogen (which is currently produced using fossil fuels) in oil refining and fertilizer creation.

Long-Haul Transport: For heavy-duty vehicles, maritime shipping, and aviation.

 

May 21, 2026 Posted by | Energy, Hydrogen, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Will The Green Mayor In Hackney Affect The Value Of My House?

I asked Google AI the question in the title of this post and received this reply.

Based on the 2026 Hackney Green Party manifesto and local policy updates, a Green-led council in Hackney is likely to implement policies aimed at environmental sustainability, improved social housing, and stricter regulation of private property, which could have mixed effects on property values.

Here is how the Green Party’s approach in Hackney might impact your home value:

Potential Upward Pressures on Property ValueGreen Infrastructure Improvements:

The council is prioritizing increased green canopy cover (target of 30%) and the installation of electric vehicle charging points.

Increased green space and improved environmental quality can enhance the desirability of residential areas, often positively impacting house prices.

Energy Efficiency Upgrades: Continued investments in insulating homes and supporting heat pump installations could make older properties more attractive to buyers concerned about energy efficiency and lower utility bills.

“Alive and Flourishing” Strategy: Efforts to reactivate underused spaces could improve local amenities, making neighbourhoods more vibrant and potentially increasing demand.

Potential Downward or Stabilizing Pressures on ValueFocus on Social and Affordable Housing: A core priority is building 1,000 new council homes for social rent, along with a focus on “genuinely affordable” housing.

A shift away from high-end private luxury development towards affordable housing can reduce the rate of capital growth in the private market.

Rent Controls and Regulation: Green Party policy includes lobbying for local rent controls.

While this directly impacts buy-to-let investors, it can change the investment landscape and overall demand for investment properties in the borough.

Regulation of Empty Homes: The council plans to double Council Tax for properties left vacant for 12 months or more, and may use Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) for long-term empty buildings.

Expansion of Selective Licensing: Proposals to expand landlord licensing schemes to cover more of the borough could increase costs for landlords, potentially causing some to exit the market.

Potential Tax and Regulatory Factors

Council Tax Increases: The budget for 2026/27 includes a standard 4.99% council tax increase.

Stricter Developer Obligations: Increased requirements for developers to contribute to community infrastructure could increase development costs, although the focus is often on increasing social value rather than solely high-end investment.

Conclusion

Hopefully Nothing Too Bad! But who knows?

 

 

May 8, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, World | , , , , | 4 Comments