Global Scans · UK · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Achieving Brexit will dominate the UK's agenda up to and beyond 2020 with uncertainty rife until clear decisions are made on the form of Great Britain's future relationship with the EU and the rest of the world.

• [New] By 2026 the UK energy system will enter a high-demand transition phase. Morson Edge
• [New] For overseas investors, the UK will increasingly be judged not simply on the existence of BNG requirements, but on regulatory certainty and clarity, speed of consenting and pricing levels of off-site biodiversity units and statutory biodiversity credits (set by DEFRA). JD Supra
• [New] If implemented pragmatically, BNG could underpin a competitive advantage in nature-based solutions, environmental consultancy services, data and verification-sectors in which the UK already has strengths. JD Supra
• [New] Regulatory requirements for biodiversity impact assessments, net gain requirements (the UK requires 10% biodiversity net gain on all new developments), and environmental permitting delays create project timeline and cost risks. Gray Group International
• [New] UK GDP was only set to grow 0.4% in 2026 and 1% in 2027, a radical downgrade on previous forecasts. City AM
• [New] Inflation will bounce back up to as much as 5% over the coming months, adding to the cost of living troubles faced by British households. City AM
• [New] A further rise in oil prices to $140 per barrel could plunge the UK into a recession. City AM
• [New] The UK economy is set to grow by half as much as economists predicted before the war in Iran started as forecasters attempt to make sense of how deep the impact of an energy price shock will be. City AM
• [New] The risk of seeing unanchored inflation expectations could be higher in the UK. investing.com
• [New] The Bank of England has today announced that it will hold the Base Rate at 3.75%, keeping interest rates unchanged as it weighs fresh inflation risks against a weaker economic backdrop. Edward Mellor Estate Agents - Estate Agents & Lettings
• [New] The Bank of England held rates at 3.75% but warned inflation could rise to 3.5% in the near term, with some economists suggesting it could reach 5% if energy prices remain elevated. CPA | The Credit Protection Association
• [New] For the Bank of England, it's likely to mean that inflation will not fall to its target rate of 2% as soon as expected and will lead to higher prices for the rest of the year - hardly the backdrop for further interest rate reductions anytime soon. KPRC Click2Houston
• [New] The Bank of England is balancing inflation risks against economic stability, and until there is clearer evidence of sustained downward pressure on prices, policy is likely to remain cautious. PLG Consultants
• [New] The Bank of England has kept interest rates on hold and signalled it could be forced to increase borrowing costs in the coming months as the US-Israel war on Iran threatens to drive inflation in the UK above 3%. The Guardian
• [New] Low cost solar panels that families can buy at supermarkets and put on their balconies or outdoor space will be made available in the UK for the first time, potentially within 2027. Byline Times
• [New] The UK Government will help to fund more than 600 flood management schemes in financial year 2026/27, with £830m allocated across England. Edie
• [New] The UK has ringfenced £240m a year until 2029, alongside billions in loan guarantees for Ukraine, as well as protecting allocations for Palestine and Lebanon at current levels, with the latter explicitly funded to reduce the drivers of irregular migration. The Guardian
• [New] The 40% reduction in UK aid spending, which MPs voted to back last year, will mean all aid spending being cut to all G20 countries except Turkey, and the majority now focused on conflict zones, primarily Palestine, Sudan and Ukraine. The Guardian
• [New] Scotland will see cooler temperatures on Wednesday, ranging between 11 and 13 C and Northern Ireland will see highs of 10 C to 11 C. SKY
• [New] Jackdaw & Mero-4: The startup of the Jackdaw gas field in the UK and the full ramp-up of the Mero-4 project in Brazil in 2026 will provide incremental high-margin production. FinancialContent
• [New] Consumer willingness to try cultivated meat remains below 41%, while the FSA targets first safety evaluations for cell-cultivated products by early 2027. / UK CNS Media

Last updated: 24 March 2026