The UK’s investment in renewable energy has lagged significantly behind the rest of the world in recent years, according to an analysis of global data.

Still cutting the “Green Crap” policies as announced by David Cameron. – Owl

Rume Otuguor www.theguardian.com 

The latest government figures reveal the UK’s renewable capacity has fallen to an average increase of 4.45% in the past three years, compared with an average 9.67% annual increase globally.

The analysis follows the government’s announcement that it will approve more than 100 new oil and gas licences.

In the UK, total renewable capacity grew by 1.96% in 2020, 3.65% in 2021 and 7.74% in 2022, averaging a capacity of just 4.45% a year – well down from the 24.26% growth recorded in 2015.

The rest of the world recorded much higher levels of growth in renewable capacity compared with the UK in the last three years. In 2020, renewable capacity grew by 10.3%, followed by 9.1% in 2021 and 9.6% in 2022. This averages a 9.67% increase, more than double that of the UK over the same period.

The Liberal Democrats’ energy and climate spokesperson, Wera Hobhouse, criticised the government’s failure “to invest in the greenest, cheapest and most popular form of energy” and demanded it do more, including removing restrictions on new solar and wind and empowering local authorities to support decentralised energy that will “not only bring down bills, but also provide skilled jobs for the future”.

She said the figures showed the Conservative party could not be trusted with the environment. “They would rather new onshore oilfields than solar farms and wind turbines,” she said.

Roger Fouquet, a senior research fellow at the Energy Studies Institute in the National University of Singapore, said that as countries such as Iceland move towards 100% renewable energy, “its investment is likely to slow down, only increasing to meet the rising demand of power”. However, he noted that the UK cannot compare.

“The UK’s current renewable electricity capacity is below 50%, and has a great deal of further investment to undertake to claim to be a leader in low-carbon energy systems. In fact, 45% of European economies have a higher share of renewable electricity capacity,” Fouquet said.

RenewableUK, a leading non-profit energy trade association, believes the government needs to develop a plan to compete with the EU and US in a competitive renewables market.

Its executive director of policy, Ana Musat, said: “The government urgently needs to develop a comprehensive strategy for making the UK renewables sector the most attractive to global investors, so that we can continue to build new clean energy projects at scale and attract supply chain investment in key areas such as blades, cables and floating offshore wind.”

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: “We won’t apologise for moving faster and earlier on renewable energy than many other countries, and we are glad to see that nations across Europe and the rest of the world are starting to catch up.

“We have already attracted around £120bn investment in renewables since 2010, and are expected to attract a further £100bn in net zero by 2030 – powering up Britain and supporting up to 480,000 jobs. This has meant we have increased the amount of energy coming from renewables from 6.7% in 2010 to 41.5% in 2022.”

New plans to convert Sidmouth’s seafront Drill Hall into a Rockfish restaurant have been unveiled with images as to what it will look like. The plans are bigger and better than a previously approved scheme and include a new outdoor terrace.

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

Mitch Tonks’ chain have also acquired the toilet block adjacent to the Drill Hall on Sidmouth seafront which ‘will result in a much enhanced restaurant offer on this site’. Work has been ongoing and now Rockfish are at the stage where they have submitted a fresh planning application for the site.

News of the chain’s expansion into Sidmouth was first reported in 2020, and initial plans for the former Drill Hall were given the go-ahead by planners. But three years on, work has yet to begin, beset by delays and ‘legal matters’ having slowed down the proposals – but now they are back.

“With our proven track record and our focus on quality, family and sustainability, we believe Rockfish is the right fit for Sidmouth which being by the water will provide a perfect destination for people to travel to and eat fresh seafood,” a statement with the planning application, submitted to East Devon District Council says. “As with all our other restaurants we will create 30 – 40 local full and part time jobs. The investment into Rockfish Sidmouth will be in Excess of £1m in total.”

A spokesperson for Rockfish said the submitted plans honour the historic significance of the Drill Hall, which would house the new Rockfish restaurant. They added the projected works will preserve the working aesthetic of the Drill Hall in its setting and blend in with the character of the existing, neighbouring buildings on Sidmouth’s esplanade.

They continued: “The submitted design also outlines efforts to protect the local landmark from any further erosion or decay as a result of the elements, by adding a layer of further insulation to the outer walls. Alongside these preservative works for the Drill Hall, Rockfish’s plans for the site now also include the redevelopment of the adjacent toilet block and the addition of new, more modern public toilet facilities for the town.”

Artist impression of Rockfish’s plans for Drill Hall on Sidmouth seafront

A statement with the planning adds: “If approved the building will serve as a restaurant for popular seafood chain, Rockfish, with a view to help rejuvenate the East end of Sidmouth’s historic Seafront Esplanade which has been neglected in recent years. The proposal would be the first restaurant in the Eastern end of the town and as such would help to draw more people to the Port Royal area, improving the commercial viability of nearby businesses such as Sidmouth Trawlers and the Lifeboat Shop.

“The primary dining space is proposed to be located in the Main Hall on the ground floor level, with a more suitable quantity of natural daylight being introduced to the restaurant through the creation of four new window openings in the bays along the Eastern wall. The extension would have secondary seating with three large windows opening up its natural light and highlighting sea views. The original interior is proposed to be preserved as much as possible, with the hammer-beamed roof structure and brick arches retained to act as focal points of the space.

“The proposal is to operate largely within the form of the existing building, as well as the extension which replaces the toilet block. The extension includes extended seating to the main restaurant, prep area and store room for kitchen. A new toilet block will replace the old one. It is proposed to have two unisex bathrooms both accessible with baby changing.”

Founder & CEO Mitch Tonks added: “I’m really excited about this incredible, historic location and about Rockfish joining the thriving community in Sidmouth. Opening a sustainable seafood restaurant in a seaside town, right by the water, naturally feels like the perfect fit. We’re also very honoured and proud that our works on the Drill Hall will go beyond the restaurant itself and provide a public service to those who live and are planning to visit this fabulous location.”

Rockfish has sites in Brixham, Salcombe. Dartmouth, Exeter, Exmouth, Plymouth, Torquay, as well as Poole and Weymouth in Dorset. New openings in Topsham, as well as Sidmouth, and a second Salcombe site are planned.

East Devon District Council planners will determine the fate of the application at a later date.

Tory ministers hit out at ‘incompetent’ Home Office as Legionella bacteria to put barge out of action for weeks

Jenny Medlicott www.lbc.co.uk

The Bibby Stockholm could be out of action for weeks after Legionella bacteria was detected in the water supply.

Migrants on board the housing barge have been moved back to hotels after they were evacuated from the vessel on Friday.

It comes just five days after the first group of asylum seekers moved onto the barge following a series of delays.

Senior MPs have now questioned why the group of 39 migrants was allowed to board before the test results had been returned.

“Small boats week has turned into Carry On Up the Channel week,” one senior Tory said.

“This is deeply troubling, and rapidly turning into a farce that the Home Office can ill afford,” former minister Tim Loughton said.

He continued: “Given the importance of the project, it was important that every risk assessment was performed before the people were put on the barge. Given the delays, there are serious questions as to why they were not done and what comeback there is on the contractors or whoever is responsible for signing it off for habitation.”

Another MP said the incident was an “embarrassment” and signalled “incompetence”.

Reports suggest that Home Office officials were told about the discovery of Legionella bacteria in the water on Wednesday.

But despite this, six more migrants were transferred onto the barge the following day.

Legionella bacteria can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a lung infection that causes flu-like symptoms, coughs, chest pain and shortness of breath.

In extreme cases, it can lead to people coughing up blood.

None of the people on board have shown any symptoms yet, but they have used the water supply.

Ministers were later informed by the UK Health Security Agency on Thursday evening about the bacteria discovery and were advised to remove the six newly boarded migrants from the floating accommodation.

However, the Home Office announced on Friday all 39 migrants would be relocated as a “further temporary precaution”.

It is understood that the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, and Immigration Minister, Robert Jenrick, were first informed of the bacteria’s presence on Thursday.

A Home Office spokesperson said on Friday: “As a precautionary measure, all 39 asylum seekers who arrived on the vessel this week are being disembarked while further assessments are undertaken.

“No individuals on board have presented with symptoms of Legionnaires’, and asylum seekers are being provided with appropriate advice and support.

“The samples taken relate only to the water system on the vessel itself and therefore carry no direct risk indication for the wider community of Portland nor do they relate to fresh water entering the vessel. Legionnaires’ disease does not spread from person to person.”

It is believed the migrants on board have now been relocated to hotels around a two-hour drive from Portland, where the vessel is moored, according to The Telegraph.

It could take weeks before the pipes are free of the bacteria and new checks are carried out.

Speaking to LBC’s Ben Kentish on Friday, Shadow Immigration Minister Stephen Kinnock said that the Bibby Stockholm barge was a “floating symbol of Tory incompetence and failure”.

Continuing, MP Stephen Kinnock stated how Labour would “scrap the unworkable, unethical and unaffordable Rwanda plan” if elected, adding they would channel the funds into improving the National Crime Agency.

Mr Kinnock added that if elected as Prime Minister, Keir Starmer would show “respect” to the EU to secure a migrants return deal.

It comes just days after Tory minister Sarah Dines insisted to LBC’s Nick Ferrari at Breakfast: “It is a safe place for people to live and stay.

“It is a very complex situation. Let us just be clear that the Government is determined to use barges such as this one to make sure we have somewhere which is proper – rudimentary but proper – accommodation for migrants.”

Migrants are being housed on the barge as part of government plans to grapple with soaring levels of small boat arrivals in the UK.

It is designed to be cheaper than paying for hotels across the country, which has proved controversial with some communities and even led to some being targeted by protesters.

More than 100,000 people have now crossed the Channel since records began in 2018.

Persimmon has become the latest homebuilder to warn on profits and completions as mortgage rates put pressure on the housing market. 

Pedro Gonçalves moneyweek.com

In the space of a few weeks, Persimmon, Bellway, Berkeley, Taylor Wimpey and Barrett Developments, which together have been responsible for building around 30,000 homes a year in the past, have all warned they’re planning to cut construction this year off the back of lower demand. 

It comes after 14 consecutive increases in interest rates by the Bank of England (BoE), which have risen to a 15-year high of 5.25% and pushed mortgage costs higher for homeowners.

UK housing market data from RICS shows more signs of a slowdown in property, as agreed sales fell to -44% in July, down from -36% the previous month.

The pressure of high interest rates has choked both buyer demand and mortgage applications, meaning that price declines reached levels last seen in 2009.

The average two-year fixed mortgage deal is now 6.83%, according to Moneyfacts. The typical five-year deal stands at 6.34%.

House price slump hurts Persimmon 

Persimmon has announced it reduced its headcount by almost 300 in the first half of the year and further reviews are ongoing to cut costs by as much as £25m annually.

Home sales dropped to 4,249 in the six months to June, compared with 6,652 in the first half of 2022 while underlying operating profit fell to £152.2m from £440.7m.

“Against a backdrop of higher mortgage rates, the removal of Help to Buy and significant market uncertainty, Persimmon has delivered a robust sales rate excluding bulk sales whilst growing the private average selling price in our forward order book and also securing cost savings,” chief executive Dean Finch says.

Still, the average price of each new home sold by the business rose from £245,597 to £256,445.

“As we have seen elsewhere, trading conditions have waned over the last 4-6 weeks with sales rates falling to 0.41. Pricing appears to remain resilient, but the next big test for the market will be the autumn selling season,” says Investec analyst Aynsley Lammin.

Persimmon’s downbeat assessment of the housing market comes only a few days after Bellway announced it would shut two of its divisions and slow activity in a third, as it predicted that house completions would “decrease materially” over the next 12 months.

The company said it completed 10,945 homes, down from 11,198, with an average selling price of £310,000, down from £314,399 the previous year. Reservations were also down, declining 28.4% in the year to 31 July.

The FTSE 250-listed group said it would update its forecast on volumes in its full-year results in October.

It warned that surging mortgage costs impacted sales in the final three months of 2022 when the UK was already reeling from the bonds crisis sparked by Liz Truss’ mini-Budget.

Bellway is also currently consulting on the closure of its London partnerships arm, which sees it working with housing associations, councils and private rental sector investors on projects, as well as its South Midlands division.

The move could see around 90 employees from the company’s 3,000-strong workforce lose their jobs.

Dark clouds build over the housing market 

As well as Bellway and Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey has said it is planning to cut jobs in order to find savings of £20m a year.

While Barratt announced in July that it would build 20% fewer homes in 2024, and Berkeley has said its annual sales were expected to fall by a fifth.

Competitors Crest Nicholson and Vistry have said high mortgage rates were hampering demand from first-time buyers.