Labour conference 2026: noise or worth listening to?

While we do not typically comment on political developments, it is increasingly clear that political decisions are having a growing influence on the offshore energy sector. From procurement process certainty and exclusivity agreements to capacity reservation arrangements predictability and pricing, the policy environment is fundamentally shaping offshore project timelines, risk allocation, pricing and market access.

Our recent experience, particularly in jurisdictions like the US, has shown just how challenging it is for developers, financiers, and contractors planning, especially when policies change mid-project or when regulatory certainty is lacking. For this reason, we believe it is important to highlight major policy announcements that could impact UK project certainty and access to new opportunities. The recent announcements at the Labour Conference 2026, which signal a new direction for UK grid and energy infrastructure, are therefore worth noting for all market participants.

The headline announcement at the Labour Conference 2026 was the creation of Great British Grid (GBG), a publicly owned body within Great British Energy. GBG is intended to invest in electricity network infrastructure, work alongside existing network operators and bring together public and private investment. The Government also expects it to increase competition in the delivery of network infrastructure.
  

The role of Great British Grid

GBG is not intended to replace existing transmission and distribution network operators. Instead, it will work alongside them and the private sector to support critical infrastructure and accelerate projects where network constraints are holding back investment.

Important details remain outstanding, including GBG’s precise powers, investment criteria, procurement model and long-term funding. Initial costs are expected to come from Great British Energy’s existing budget, with longer-term funding to be determined through a future Spending Review.

It is not yet clear whether GBG will become a substantial infrastructure delivery body, primarily an investor alongside private capital, or a combination of the two. Nevertheless, it could create opportunities for developers, investors and contractors involved in financing, designing and constructing network infrastructure.
  

Expanding self-build connections

Alongside GBG, the Government announced plans to expand self-build connections, allowing developers and businesses, where appropriate, to construct more of their own connection infrastructure.

The potentially significant development is the proposal to widen the circumstances in which customers can build and own, or build and transfer, high-voltage connection assets.

The reforms could give developers greater control over parts of the connection process and reduce their reliance on network-company delivery times. They could be particularly relevant to data centres, industrial facilities, generation, storage and other projects requiring high-voltage connections.

However, self-build rights will not address every constraint. Developers may still depend on others to resolve issues relating to network capacity, upstream reinforcement, land rights and planning and other consents.
 

What does this mean for our sector?

GBG could provide an additional source of investment and competition, while expanded self-build arrangements may give some developers greater control over connection infrastructure. Of course, industry will need clarity on GBG’s funding and powers, the assets that may be self-built, ownership and adoption arrangements, and the division between contestable and non-contestable works however the initial indication is that this news has been well received in the sector.