New research from Savills reveals the mounting pressure to connect projects to the UK’s low voltage distribution network. The distribution network, where most residential and small commercial developments seek connections, is facing a rising pace of applications for demand connections as well as a supply shortage of available capacity at substations. Demand connection applications rose by 30% from April 2024 to June 2025, leaving the total queue capacity at 29 GW which is equivalent to the power needed to supply roughly 14.5 million homes. The analysis from the international real estate advisor tracks the evolution of available supply capacity in the distribution network from June 2024 to August 2025, highlighting the evolution of improvements and constraints across the network. Grid IQ, developed by Savills Earth, reveals that there was around a 2 GW uplift of available capacity in primary substations from June 2024 to August 2025, placing the total available capacity at 39 GW. This figure has been largely unchanged (± 5%) over the course of the last two years. Even though the supply of capacity is about 34% higher than the demand for connections, the geographic distribution of capacity is misaligned with development needs. According to the Energy Networks Association, applications for new distribution level connections remain high, with a total of over 9 GW of connection applications for demand, generation and storage submitted each month. To contextualise this, 1 GW could power up to 500,000 homes or around ten large data centres, highlighting the scale of projects competing for limited capacity. Despite a strong requirement for new connections across demand, generation and storage, progress has been slow. Distribution network operators (DNOs) are working to optimise existing infrastructure, but developers continue to face delays. Regionally, London and the South East saw an 11% increase in demand headroom, around 1 GW, due to revised peak demand calculations by UK Power Networks, which could ease constraints on housing and mixed-use developments. In contrast, the Midlands and South West experienced a 14% drop in capacity, driven by a surge in logistics development, which is absorbing available power. Further north, the B6 Boundary, a key bottleneck between Scotland’s renewable generation and England’s demand centres, saw headroom fall by 23%, exacerbating the constraint within the region. From April 2026, rising Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) charges could prompt some site owners to reduce their import capacity, potentially freeing up grid capacity for new developments. With over 210,000 non-residential sites affected, even small adjustments could have a significant cumulative impact. Kyle Rarick, Data Analyst, Energy, Renewables and Infrastructure, says: “Nearly a year on from our initial analysis of grid headroom across the UK, new data shows how the electricity grid is evolving as demand for power increases. While progress is being made through reform and reinforcement, data shows that the headroom capacity shortage persists. This shortage is increasingly shaping the pace and location of new housing, commercial, and industrial development, as grid capacity remains a key constraint on planning and delivery.” Phil Pearson, Director,Energy, Renewables and Infrastructure, adds: “The ongoing connections reform and forthcoming TNUoS charge adjustments highlight the need for developers to monitor each part of the network to identify and secure capacity. Developers who understand these changes and incorporate grid readiness into site selection, design, and investment strategies will be best placed to deliver resilient, future-proof projects in an increasingly capacity-constrained market.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Archaeologists working at the Palace of Westminster have uncovered evidence of human activity dating back nearly 6,000 years – over a millennium older than the earliest earthworks at Stonehenge. The discovery includes more than 60 struck flint flakes, including one worked tool, likely dating to the late Mesolithic or early Neolithic period (around 4300 BC). The discovery is part of a phased three-year programme of archaeological investigations led by the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority. The findings will help shape future design and construction decisions as part of the Palace’s restoration.  The flints were found in undisturbed sand deposits that once formed part of Thorney Island, an area where prehistoric communities are thought to have fished, hunted, and gathered food. These rare finds offer a glimpse into early human life in what is now central London.  The Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, said:   “The history of Westminster is long, fascinating and well-documented. Discoveries such as these allow us to add to our knowledge of this ancient site. These archaeological investigations are an important part of the preparation work for the restoration and renewal of the Victorian building.”   Judith Cummins MP, Deputy Speaker of the Commons and R&R Programme Board Chair: “As we prepare for the restoration and renewal of the iconic Palace of Westminster, a huge amount of work is going on to understand more about the building and the thousands of years of history underneath the home of Parliament as we know it today.”  In addition to the flints, the investigation has uncovered a rich and varied collection of artefacts that shed light on the people who lived, worked, and passed through this iconic location over the centuries. Highlights include: Chair of the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority Board, distinguished historian, archaeologist and heritage restoration expert, Dr Simon Thurley CBE, said:  “The Palace of Westminster has been a central part of our national story for a thousand years; the location of momentous events that have shaped the UK’s history. As we plan for the significant restoration and renewal of Parliament, we must tread softly on the history beneath our feet, to protect it, and to learn from it. Last year that process of discovery began with the first trial excavations which have already revealed things we didn’t know, as well as confirming things we suspected. It is the start of a fascinating and important journey of discovery.”  A Major Medieval Discovery – the Lesser Hall  In a major archaeological breakthrough in August 2025, substantial remains of the medieval Lesser Hall, also known as the White Hall, were uncovered.   Dating back to 1167, the two-storey hall originally served as a royal dining space and later played host to key moments in Parliamentary history. Over the centuries, it housed the Court of Chancery, the Court of Requests, and even the House of Commons and House of Lords at different times.  Long thought to have been destroyed in the Great Fire of 1834 – which is believed to have started in the furnace room of the hall’s basement – new archaeological evidence, supported by historical records, reveals that sections of the hall’s medieval stone walls not only survived the blaze, but were restored, re-roofed, and continued in use until the building’s final demolition in 1851. Remarkably, parts of these walls also withstood a nearby WWII bomb strike decades later. This is the most significant discovery of the current archaeological investigations and provides vital insights into the layout and survival of historic structures beneath the modern Palace. The findings will help shape future design and conservation decisions as part of the Restoration and Renewal Programme. Head of the Government Historic Estates Unit at Historic England, David Brock said:  “The initial finds from archaeological investigations confirm the richness of Westminster as a site. They testify to the variety of human experience on this site. The locating of the Lesser Hall walls is particularly exciting. As this work continues, we hope it will further expand our understanding of the surviving Medieval buildings, especially Westminster Hall, and that the discoveries will enrich our knowledge of this World Heritage Site. It must also pave the way for a sensitive response to the site’s past when proposals are made for the restoration and renewal of the Palace.” Archaeological investigations are currently being carried out by MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology), commissioned by the Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority. These investigations span nine key locations across the Palace of Westminster estate, including Black Rod’s Garden, Royal Court, Speaker’s Court, Speaker’s Green, Cromwell Green, Old Palace Yard, Victoria Tower Gardens, New Palace Yard, and the Thames Foreshore and River. These areas have been carefully selected in line with current design proposals, targeting locations where future ground disturbance is expected. The Palace sits within a Tier 1 Archaeological Priority Area, an official designation that reflects the site’s exceptional archaeological significance and sensitivity. Its grounds have been a centre of royal and political life for over a millennium. In the 11th century, King Canute established a royal residence on what was then known as Thorney Island. Later, between 1045 and 1050, Edward the Confessor built a royal palace on the site while commissioning the first Westminster Abbey, laying the foundations for the Palace of Westminster’s enduring role in British history. So far, the team has uncovered, recorded, and reburied evidence of structures and features from the medieval Palace, later Parliamentary buildings, and the Victorian-era reconstruction. These early-stage works are helping to build a clearer picture of the site’s rich and layered history. Specifically, these ongoing investigations will: By the end of this phase, specialists will have dug 14 trial pits, drilled 10 geoarchaeological boreholes and surveyed the river foreshore. Archaeological investigations will continue through to 2026, with a full report of the findings to be published 2027.  Archaeology lead at the Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority Diane Abrams said:  “These exciting discoveries and finds are all contributing to the national story

New data signals a sector reset as contractors face easing wage pressures but growing uncertainty over workforce and project pipelines. The UK construction sector is showing clear signs of a cooling labour market, according to a report by Southern Construction Framework, leading construction procurement framework delivered by the public sector for the public sector in the South of England. The report found that in Q3 2025, employment increased by a modest average of 0.1%, compared to 1.5% in Q3 2024. Across the trades, drylining decreased by the largest amount (-4.0%), with concrete frame (+1.0%) and windows (+1.6%) all seeing modest increases. This is being driven by multiple forces according to the report, including regulatory burdens, cost pressures, and skills shortages.  The news comes as an ONS report found that construction employment sunk to a 24-year low to 1.3% in the third quarter to 2.05 million. This marks a 15% collapse in capacity since a peak just before Covid.  While this is easing cost pressures on contractor project budgets, with wage growth slowing to 3.9%, down from 6.4% in March, it is indicative of weak project pipelines. In an extreme case, SCF’s report found that a South West drylining provider has experienced a -34.3% drop in employment in a strategic effort to revise their strategies and downsized operations. The survey of over 150 subcontractors found that average tender workload across all regions was +1.5% during Q3 2025, significantly lower than Q3 2021 which saw a quarterly movement of +5.71%.  Janara Singh, Assistant Framework Manager at SCF, said: “SCF contractors have reported noticeable shifts in behaviour across the supply chain, reflective of insecurities in the marketplace.  Contractors and suppliers alike are reassessing their strategies, with many adjusting their tendering approaches, cost structures, and workforce planning to remain competitive in a volatile environment.” The regulatory landscape continues to be a defining factor in shaping tender activity and project delivery timelines, having a particularly negative effect on the London housing market. The implementation of the Building Safety Act (BSA) Gateway 2 has introduced significant delays in high-rise residential developments, contributing to a -1.9% decline in window-related tenders in the capital. This bottleneck has created uncertainty for contractors and developers, with many projects stalled awaiting compliance approvals.  While a recovery is anticipated, over the next year with the report predicting a 3.7% increase in tender workload, the current environment has forced suppliers to adapt their strategies. This shift is evident in the South West, where curtain walling and carpentry & joinery have seen notable increases in tender volumes, suggesting a shift toward façade and fit out work in areas with fewer regulatory hurdles. The lack of good-quality labour is also adding time to projects, as contractors struggle to secure skilled subcontractors. In response to ongoing skills shortages in the sector, the government has published its Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, pledging to invest £100 million over the next 4 years to expand Construction Skills Bootcamps. Adrienne Turner, Framework Manager, said: “To successfully navigate today’s construction landscape, public sector organisations must prioritise early planning, proactive collaboration, and strategic investment in talent. Building resilience means engaging supply chain partners early, leveraging digital tools for compliance, and focusing on high-quality subcontractors. With labour market cooling and skills shortages persisting, visibility and certainty of project pipelines are essential for effective workforce management.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals