Tag: Downing Street

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 30 July 2024.

New targets will boost housebuilding in areas most in need.

We’re overhauling our housing system to meet the needs of working people and put communities first.

Our plan will include introducing mandatory planning targets to aim to deliver on our ambition to build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years.

The new targets will boost housebuilding in areas most in need, to help more people buy their own homes, and help drive growth – making everyone in the country better off.

Bringing back mandatory housing targets

As part of our plan, we will update the National Planning Policy Framework to bring back mandatory housing targets and set a higher expectation for how many homes must be built.

Our new housing targets will make sure local authorities plan for the homes that are proportionate to the size of existing communities, with an uplift in areas where house prices are the most out of step with local incomes.

Our approach also includes making clear our expectation that all authorities have up-to-date Local Plans, meaning they will be required to plan for the number of homes their communities need, so local people can engage in how, not if, homes are built.

This plan will set us on a course to reach our target of 1.5 million new homes, driving growth and creating wealth in local communities.

If local authorities can’t meet their housing targets, they will need to look to brownfield land in the green belt and their grey belt, prioritising land near stations and existing settlements.

Green belt development will be held to higher standards with new “golden rules”, including that half of the homes built must be affordable.

Making it easier to build digital infrastructure

We’ll also make it easier to build laboratories, digital infrastructure, and gigafactories to make batteries for electric vehicles.

To deliver this, we’ll update our National Planning Policy Framework, requiring local authorities to identify sites to meet the needs of a modern economy.

Our long-term plan for housing

Our Planning and Infrastructure Bill will include measures to speed up the delivery of high-quality homes and infrastructure.

And we are committed to delivering the biggest boost to affordable and social housing in a generation.

We will also build the next generation of new towns. Built where they will deliver for local people and unlock economic growth, the New Towns  programme will deliver much-needed quality and genuinely affordable housing.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 28 July 2024.

The Prime Minister met Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Paris.

The pair reiterated their commitment to maintaining the historic friendship between Israel and the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister expressed his condolences for the deaths of the five hostages kidnapped on October 7th, whose bodies have recently been recovered from Gaza.

The Prime Minister reiterated his ongoing support for Israel’s right to self-defence in accordance with international law. He was clear that there is no moral equivalence between Israel, a democratic state actions and Hamas, a terrorist organisation.

The Prime Minister said there must be immediate steps towards a ceasefire, so that hostages can be released and more humanitarian aid can get in for those in desperate need.

The two leaders committed to continuing their close partnership in key areas of collaboration such as trade and investment.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 28 July 2024.

The Prime Minister met President of Rwanda Paul Kagame in Paris.

The Prime Minister congratulated the President on his recent re-election and remarked he was looking forward to working closely with him across a range of shared priorities.

He praised the President’s leadership on climate change, with the two leaders agreeing that further action is necessary to make sure we are all meeting our climate obligations. They agreed to keep in close contact on this.

They discussed their shared commitment to continue working together on solutions to tackle illegal migration. They agreed that it is a pressing global challenge, and breaking the business model of criminal gangs who profit from people’s suffering must be the priority.

The President and the Prime Minister reflected on the strength of the relationship between Rwanda and the UK, and both agreed this spirit of close cooperation should continue.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 28 July 2024.

The Prime Minister was pleased to meet His Highness the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani in Paris.

The two leaders acknowledged the fruitful discussion they had in December last year, when the Prime Minister visited Qatar as Leader of the Opposition.

They discussed their mutual enjoyment of the Olympic opening ceremony and both commended France for a successful event.

The Emir said the relationship between the UK and Qatar is profound and growing each year, a sentiment the Prime Minister echoed.

The two leaders pledged to build on the existing partnership, particularly in areas of mutual opportunity including education, business and energy.

The transition to clean energy and the opportunities it brings for jobs, lower bills and energy security was discussed extensively.

The Emir welcomed the Prime Minister’s early action to tackle illegal migration saying it is a global challenge to be approached in collaboration.

The leaders discussed Israel and Gaza, specifically the numbers of innocent lives continuing to be lost, and the role of international partners in bringing the conflict to an end.

The Prime Minister and Emir pledged to speak again in the coming months.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 25 July 2024.

The Prime Minister and Energy Secretary today announced a new unprecedented partnership between Great British Energy and The Crown Estate, which has the potential to leverage up to £60 billion of private investment into the UK’s drive for energy independence.

Great British Energy will be at the heart of the government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower. The company will be owned by the British people, for the British people, backed with £8.3 billion of new money over this Parliament to own and invest in clean power projects in regions across the UK.

It comes soon after the Energy Secretary has scrapped the ban on onshore wind and unblocked the production of cheap solar energy. Today’s announcement is yet more evidence of the Energy Secretary rolling up his sleeves to deliver clean energy and kickstart economic growth, so British bill payers and communities reap the benefits of clean, secure, home-grown energy.

Great British Energy’s first major partnership will be between two national institutions for the benefit of the British people. The Crown Estate, which has a £16 billion portfolio of land and seabed, operates independently and returns its profits to the government, brings long-established expertise to the partnership, and new investment and borrowing powers recently announced by government. Great British Energy will bring the critical strategic industrial policy that the state can provide, as well as its own ability to invest.

The Crown Estate estimates this partnership will lead to up to 20-30GW of new offshore wind developments reaching seabed lease stage by 2030, enough power for the equivalent of almost 20 million homes.

The partnership will boost Britain’s energy independence by investing in homegrown power, and with accompanying reforms to policy, cut the time it takes to get offshore wind projects operating and delivering power to homes by up to half.

This partnership will see the public sector taking on a new role undertaking additional early development work for offshore wind projects. This will ensure that future offshore wind development has lower risk for developers, enabling projects to build out faster after leasing and crowding in private sector investment. It will also help boost new technologies such as carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, wave and tidal energy.

It comes as the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has published details of the company’s objective. Families across the country have suffered during the cost-of-living crisis, as the UK’s over-reliance on fossil fuel markets was exploited by Putin. Great British Energy is part of the government’s plans for clean power by 2030, so families and businesses are never left vulnerable again to spiking global prices.

The Prime Minister has confirmed that Great British Energy will be headquartered in Scotland and will back energy generation projects in the UK, bringing profits back to the British people. The UK Government is in discussions with the Scottish Government and Crown Estate Scotland on how Great British Energy could help to support new development and investment within Scotland.

The government is already legislating to give both Great British Energy and The Crown Estate the powers they need to rapidly deliver, with two Bills being introduced in Parliament today.

Today the Energy Secretary also confirmed that leading captain of industry Juergen Maier, former CEO of Siemens UK, will be the Chair of Great British Energy, driving forward this new company.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

My government is laser focused on delivering change, to make people better off.

This innovative partnership between Great British Energy and the Crown Estate is an important step toward our mission for clean energy by 2030, and bringing down energy bills for good.

This agreement will drive up to £60 billion in investment into the sector, turbocharging our country toward energy security, the next generation of skilled jobs, and lowering bills for families and business.

My mission led government is rolling up our sleeves to deliver for Britain.

Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband said:

Great British Energy comes from a simple idea – that the British people should own and benefit from our natural resources. Investing in clean power is the route to end the UK’s energy insecurity, and Great British Energy will be essential in this mission.

The agreement with The Crown Estate will lead to more investment, cleaner power, more energy security, and is a statement of intent that it will be a permanent and transformative institution for our country.

Chief Executive of the Crown Estate Dan Labbad said:

The Crown Estate exists to serve the national interest, including stewarding our natural resources to deliver a decarbonised, energy secure and sustainable future.

With new powers and by partnering with government, we can drive greater investment into this future for our country, and with it support nature recovery and job creation.

Juergen Maier CBE, Chair of Great British Energy said:

Great British Energy will be a publicly-owned national clean energy champion, ensuring British people reap the benefits of clean, secure, home-grown energy.

I’m excited to lead this company and work with the private sector and communities to rapidly expand skilled jobs and investment across the country.

Great British Energy will have five key functions

• Project development – leading projects through development stages to speed up their delivery, whilst capturing more value for the British public
• Project investment – investing in energy projects alongside the private sector, helping get them off the ground
• Local Power Plan – supporting local energy generation projects through working with local authorities, combined authorities and communities
• Supply chains – building supply chains across the UK, boosting energy independence and creating jobs
• Great British Nuclear – exploring how Great British Energy and Great British Nuclear will work together, including considering how Great British Nuclear functions will fit with Great British Energy

The Crown Estate has already helped the UK to become a global leader in the offshore wind sector, and is currently running one of the world’s largest commercial scale floating wind leasing programmes in the Celtic sea. This partnership will accelerate that leadership even further.

The Great British Energy Bill, which is being introduced in the House of Commons today, will support the creation of the new publicly owned company by setting out its objectives and ensuring it has access to necessary finances. The Secretary of State will also have the ability to set Great British Energy’s strategic priorities to ensure it remains focussed on the government’s aim to accelerate the delivery of homegrown clean energy power in the UK.

The Crown Estate Bill will modernise The Crown Estate by removing outdated restrictions on its activities so it can, for example, invest in digital technologies that will further enhance its award-winning spatial mapping of the seabed. The Bill will also expand The Crown Estate’s investment powers and grant borrowing capabilities, unlocking significant investment in public infrastructure. This includes essential marine investment to help support the acceleration and growth of offshore wind capacity by 2030 alongside supporting the regeneration of urban centres, such as its most recent example of a new Life Science partnership in central Oxford and nature recovery across its portfolio. These reforms will secure the continued future success of the Crown Estate business and maximise the returns it generates for the public.

The announcements follow the government’s rapid action to set up a new Mission Control at the heart of government to deliver clean power by 2030, headed up by former Climate Change Committee chief executive Chris Stark.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 25 July 2024.

We will make Britain a clean energy superpower. The first step to achieving that is to set up Great British Energy.

Great British Energy will be a company owned by the British people, to deliver power back to the British people.

We believe people in this country should own and benefit from our natural resources, and Great British Energy is the first step to ending the UK’s energy insecurity.

What is Great British Energy?

Great British Energy will be a publicly owned, clean-energy company. It will own, manage and operate clean power projects, such as wind farms, up and down the country.

It will be headquartered in Scotland and paid for by a windfall tax on oil and gas giants.

How will it help me?

Great British Energy will invest clean power projects all across the United Kingdom, such as wind farms, which are the cheapest forms of electricity generation to build and operate.

This will help make our country energy independent, kicking tyrants like Putin to the curb, tackling climate change and saving families money.

And investing in clean domestic power will create jobs and build supply chains in every corner of the UK.

Why do we need a publicly owned energy company?

It should be the British people who own and benefit from our national resources.

Great British Energy will allow us to use resources that belong to all of us, and that should be harnessed for the common good – maximising our public assets, rather than flogging them off.

We already have public ownership of energy in this country, just by foreign governments. At the moment, taxpayers in other countries profit from our energy infrastructure but the British people are missing out.

Making Britain a clean energy superpower

Great British Energy is part of this Government’s mission to make the UK a clean-energy superpower.

As well as harnessing the power of clean energy, we will invest in the industries of the future, and create 650,000 jobs across the country by 2030.

We’ll invest in home insulation upgrades to help families save money on their bills, and improve access to nature, promote biodiversity, and protect our landscapes and wildlife.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 23 July 2024.

The Prime Minister hosted King Abdullah II of Jordan at Downing Street today.

The Prime Minister thanked His Majesty for making the time, and said the visit demonstrated the strength of the relationship between the UK and Jordan.

The Prime Minister updated the King on his Government’s decision to lift the pause on funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency, adding that he remained deeply concerned by the trajectory of the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Securing a ceasefire and ensuring the acceleration of aid into Gaza was the immediate priority, the leaders agreed. They also discussed the need to restore hope and the viability of peace on both sides.

Turning to the bilateral relationship, the leaders discussed the strong and long-standing security partnership between the UK and Jordan, as well as the opportunities to further technology, energy and education ties.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 July 2024.

The Prime Minister welcomed President Zelenskyy to Downing Street this morning, the first foreign leader to visit No10 during this government.

The leaders reflected on the NATO summit held last week, and the EPC yesterday, and agreed both meetings had underscored the strength of international support for Ukraine.

President Zelenskyy updated the Prime Minister on the situation on the battlefield. The Prime Minister said he was focused on ensuring Ukraine had the equipment and support it needed to defend its sovereignty.

Looking ahead to the next six months, the Prime Minister and President discussed the need to ensure equipment reached the front line as quickly as possible to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position ahead of the winter.

The leaders also discussed the situation in the Black Sea, and Ukraine’s success in devastating the Russian fleet. They agreed to continue to explore opportunities to strengthen Ukraine’s maritime capabilities through the Maritime Capability Coalition.

The Prime Minister said he hoped to return to Ukraine at the earliest opportunity.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 18 July 2024.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the President of the French Republic met today at Blenheim Palace.

In this, the 120th anniversary year of the Entente Cordiale, the two leaders discussed the full spectrum of the bilateral relationship between the UK and France, the UK’s intention to reset its relationship with the EU and wider Europe, as well as international and global issues. 80 years on from the D-Day landings and the Liberation of France the leaders remembered the immense common sacrifices that both countries have made to defend their shared values and to protect their societies. And 30 years on from the opening of the Channel Tunnel, they recalled what the UK and France can build together when they do not constrain their ambitions, allowing their economies to flourish and their people to connect.

As fellow members of the G7, G20, NATO and permanent members of the UN Security Council, the UK and France will continue to work together to provide global leadership in an era of renewed geopolitical instability. They are committed to continuing to invest in the European Political Community format to bring together Europe’s democracies and contribute to regional stability and security through political dialogue and concrete cooperation.

Looking to the future France and the UK will pursue their cooperation across the full spectrum of the relationship, at both a bilateral and at a global level. This will include through a focus on sustainable economic growth, international development, energy security and driving low carbon solutions to tackle the climate and nature emergencies. They will embrace the opportunities presented by supporting the clean energy transition, reform of the international financial system and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence.

The UK and France reaffirm their deep commitment to Europe’s defence and security. This includes their steadfast support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s illegal war of aggression, for as long as it takes, and for Ukraine’s irreversible path to NATO membership. Fourteen years on from the Lancaster House Treaty, the UK and France share the ambition to reinvigorate their defence cooperation to reflect the complex challenges of the modern era and the range of threats from hostile state and non-state actors to our shared values and interests.

The UK and France agree the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza along with the release of all hostages, unfettered access to humanitarian aid, the upholding of international law, and progress towards establishing a Palestinian State living in peace and security alongside a safe and secure Israel. They also agree on the importance of maintaining stability and security in the wider region.

The Prime Minister and President expressed their condolences for the victims of the tragic events in the channel yesterday and last week. They committed to strengthening their cooperation on irregular migration and the fight against criminal gangs responsible for this tragic loss of life through small boat crossings. The Prime Minister presented the UK’s new Border Security Command and the vital role it will play in this mission.

As a sign of the ever deeper cooperation between the UK and France, the Prime Minister and President welcomed UK support for the staging of the Olympics. They agreed to hold the next bilateral summit in the UK in 2025.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 18 July 2024.

The Prime Minister met Jonas Støre , the Prime Minister of Norway at Blenheim Palace today, as part of the European Political Community meeting.

The Prime Minister reflected on the close friendship between the UK and Norway, which was built on historic ties and a shared outlook.

The Prime Minister said he was also proud of the close defence partnership between the two countries, and said he hoped the UK and Norway could go further in the coming years to uphold stability in the High North

The leaders also discussed the importance of energy security, including how both countries could work together on green energy and renewables. The leaders agreed that they should initiate a Norwegian-UK partnership on security and energy transition.

The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.