Country Intelligence Hub
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom delivers infrastructure through a broad mix of models: regulated structures such as the Thames Tideway Tunnel's standalone infrastructure provider and Sizewell C's nuclear regulated asset base, Contracts for Difference for low-carbon generation, Direct Procurement for Customers at the Haweswater Aqueduct, legacy PFI, and large publicly funded programmes such as HS2. The active pipeline spans nuclear new build at Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C and the Rolls-Royce SMR programme at Wylfa, offshore wind including Berwick Bank Phase B and Norfolk Vanguard following a record 8.4GW Allocation Round 7, the East Coast Cluster carbon-capture network, the Lower Thames Crossing, Heathrow expansion, the Havant Thicket Reservoir and the London Gateway port expansion. Nationally significant projects are consented through the Planning Act 2008 Development Consent Order regime, public contracts follow the Procurement Act 2023, and foreign investment in sensitive sectors is screened under the National Security and Investment Act 2021.
Latest Developments
- Regulatory · 1 May 2026Southern Water submits Development Consent Order for Havant Thicket Reservoir
Southern Water submitted the Development Consent Order application for Havant Thicket Reservoir — the first new major UK reservoir in 30 years. DCO submitted, not yet consented, as of this cut-off; reservoir shell construction has been ongoing since 2022 under separate consents.
- Regulatory · 1 May 2026HS2 Ltd six-monthly Parliamentary report: total cost £87.7-102.7bn, Old Oak Common-Curzon Street opening 2036-2039
HS2 Ltd's statutory six-monthly Parliamentary report (corroborated by the National Audit Office, June 2026) confirmed total programme cost of £87.7-102.7bn and revised the Old Oak Common-Curzon Street opening to 2036-2039, with the full Euston-Curzon Street route now targeted for 2040-2043. Forecasts, not achieved milestones.
- Project · 13 April 2026Rolls-Royce SMR and GBE-N sign Wylfa technology-design contract, backed by up to £599m National Wealth Fund loan
Rolls-Royce SMR and Great British Energy – Nuclear signed a technology-design and site-specific-design contract for the Wylfa SMR programme, backed by a National Wealth Fund loan facility of up to £599m to Rolls-Royce SMR Limited (the technology company, not project-level debt). Pre-FID.
Infrastructure
- HyNet North West Hydrogen & CCUS ClusterProgramme · Low-Carbon Infrastructure, Energy Infrastructure · Development / Planning — Contested Allocation (Undetermined)
- London Gateway Port ExpansionProject · Ports and Maritime, Logistics Infrastructure, Trade Infrastructure · Under Construction
- Havant Thicket ReservoirProject · Water Infrastructure, Bulk Water Infrastructure, Strategic Water Infrastructure · Development / Planning
- Rolls-Royce SMR Programme — WylfaProject · Nuclear Energy, Power Generation, Energy Infrastructure, Low-Carbon Infrastructure · Development / Planning
Infrastructure Sectors
- Energy Infrastructure
- Strategic Infrastructure
- Transport Infrastructure
- Offshore Wind
Key Organizations
Market Participants
14 market participants tracked in United Kingdom. Company profiles, capabilities and market presence are available in the Market Participants directory, included with the Business plan.
Open the Market Participants directory →Legal & Regulatory Framework
A compact map of the legal topics InfraLex tracks for United Kingdom. Each card links to the full instrument list for that topic.
Foreign Investment
Primary frameworkNational Security and Investment Act 2021
1 instrument
Companies & Corporate
Primary frameworkCompanies Act 2006
1 instrument
Competition
Primary frameworkCompetition Act 1998
3 instruments
PPP / Concessions
1 instrument
Public Procurement
Primary frameworkProcurement Act 2023
3 instruments
Land / Real Estate / Land Use
Primary frameworkPlanning Act 2008
1 instrument
Environmental / Permitting
Primary frameworkEnvironmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016
1 instrument
Tax
Primary frameworkCorporation Tax Act 2010
1 instrument
Banking & Finance
Primary frameworkFinancial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA)
2 instruments
Arbitration & Dispute Resolution
Primary frameworkArbitration Act 1996, as amended by the Arbitration Act 2025
1 instrument
Insolvency / Bankruptcy
Primary frameworkInsolvency Act 1986, as amended by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020
1 instrument
Sector Regulation
4 instruments