Heathrow has reduced planned spending on third-runway noise mitigation measures. The proposed budget has fallen from £241m to £52m, adding another contested cost and community-impact issue to the regulatory and parliamentary scrutiny surrounding airport expansion.

Ofwat is considering rules that could widen scarcity-linked water pricing. Proposed charging changes would let companies give greater weight to water scarcity and efficiency, potentially accelerating tariff experiments during a summer of drought, restrictions, and rising bills.

Planning changes will favour station housing while tightening pub protections. The revised framework raises density expectations around transport hubs and makes pub conversions harder, as ministers try to accelerate homebuilding without hollowing out local high streets.

Ofwat has provisionally approved £3.4bn for additional water investment projects. The proposals cover 13 companies and include infrastructure for water quality, housing, and data centres, with five operators permitted to raise bills if the decisions are confirmed.

Ministers have backed changes to Britain’s post-Brexit subsidy control system. Guidance, streamlined routes, and transparency will be revised after the CMA found the regime broadly effective but identified practical difficulties for some public authorities.

The CMA is proposing major cuts to legacy market remedies. Twenty-three could disappear entirely, four may be reduced, and six retained as the regulator reviews requirements across banking, insurance, travel, retail, and other markets.

Ministers are giving councils stronger powers over struggling high streets. Vape shops and adult gaming centres will face planning controls, while local authorities will receive greater scope to reject betting premises and close rogue businesses.

Breedon is pressing ministers to protect British cement competitiveness now. The group wants stronger carbon-border rules, electricity-cost support, procurement reform, and faster investment in industrial decarbonisation.

Ofcom has opened a compliance investigation into Zayo Group UK. The regulator is examining whether information supplied under a statutory request connected to telecoms-security duties was complete, accurate, and provided within the required timeframe.