Labour leader Andy Burnham announced plans to create Great British Grid, a new public body designed to invest in Britain’s electricity infrastructure and accelerate connection projects, during his first party conference speech as prime minister in Liverpool on Tuesday.
Great British Grid Launches to Tackle Infrastructure Delays
Prime Minister Andy Burnham used his first conference speech as Labour leader in Liverpool to unveil the creation of Great British Grid, a new publicly owned company aimed at speeding up grid hook-ups and driving up competition for connection projects. Funded through existing allocations from GB Energy, the newly established body will compete alongside the three private network companies that currently own and manage transmission lines across Britain. The move marks Burnham’s first major step toward fulfilling his promise to bring utility essentials under public control.
Businesses across the country have faced mounting frustrations over long wait times to connect new buildings and projects to power lines. To counter this, the new state-backed corporation will allow firms waiting for connections to finance their own infrastructure while supporting and potentially co-investing in those projects. Officials pointed to similar measures in Ireland, where expanded private building rights helped speed up connections by 11 months.
Energy Costs and the Push for European Parity
Achieving that target requires an overhaul of the nation’s high-voltage wires. Energy regulator Ofgem estimates that £70bn of investment is required in the grid between 2025 and 2031 to accommodate the transition from fossil fuel stations to remote renewable sites like offshore wind farms. At the same time, the National Audit Office warned earlier this month that connection backlogs have continued to swell.
Triple Lock Speculation Precedes Autumn Budget
Beyond utility reforms, the conference speech unfolded against the backdrop of tightening fiscal constraints. With borrowing costs rising, Chancellor John Healey and Downing Street faced questions regarding future social care plans and the long-term sustainability of the state pension triple lock. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh emphasized the scale of the financial challenge, stating that past administrations failed to invest adequately in the system, leaving the current government to accelerate upgrades at record pace over the next decade.
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