Manchester Airport growth is intensifying pressure for northern rail investment. A new report argues stronger links through Northern Powerhouse Rail are needed to widen the airport’s economic reach and connect more northern businesses to international markets.

Housing planning approvals have fallen to their lowest recorded level. HBF data shows only 1,220 private housing projects gained permission in England during the first quarter, deepening concern that planning reform alone will not restore development volumes.

Whitehall is considering a wider consolidation of UK steelmaking assets. Officials are weighing combinations involving British Steel, Speciality Steel UK, Sheffield Forgemasters, and potentially Liberty Steel Dalzell as taxpayer exposure to the sector continues to grow.

UK food inflation eased despite earlier forecasts for sharp acceleration. Supermarket competition, consumer resistance, hedging, and cost reductions have helped contain shelf-price increases even as energy, wage, tax, and regulatory pressures continue.

UK growth accelerated again as services and investment strengthened output. GDP increased 0.4% in the second quarter, with technology-related services, business investment, manufacturing, and infrastructure contributing to an uneven but continuing expansion.

Balfour Beatty has upgraded guidance after stronger first-half infrastructure trading. UK power transmission and US building demand lifted earnings, while the group’s order book reached £22.9bn and its average net cash guidance increased.

Spirax raised first-half profit while keeping its full-year guidance unchanged. Revenue increased 5%, with semiconductor and biopharmaceutical demand supporting growth across the engineering group’s specialist thermal and fluid-technology businesses.

West Midlands leaders launched £10m to revive regional high streets. The programme will target empty shops, public spaces, events, markets, and business activity across several town and city centres.

Bellway delivered more homes despite weaker demand and rising costs. Completions increased 10.8%, but the forward order book fell as higher mortgage rates and affordability pressures weighed on reservations.

UK vehicle investment is backing next-generation manufacturing and skilled jobs. Nearly £130m of matched funding will support zero-emission and automated mobility projects, with more than 1,800 manufacturing jobs expected to benefit.