A huge gas field has been discovered under Lincolnshire with the ability to fuel the country for a decade, it has been reported. Reaching out to Egdon Resources, the energy firm behind the discovery in Gainsborough told Business Link that the Telegraph’s description of a “gas field” is premature “as the political and regulatory conditions for its development do not exist in the UK today.” At present there is a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for shale-gas, a practice with strong opposition, with fracking having been met with protests, critiqued for creating earth tremors, and clashing with the government’s environmental course, plans to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and Net Zero aims. Commissioning Deloitte to undertake an assessment of the potential economic, social and environmental impact that developing this gas resource could have, Egdon Resources said the gas resource is capable of supplying over 16 trillion cubic feet of gas, amounting to around six to seven years of current gas consumption. Deloitte’s modelling estimates that the development would generate a GDP contribution of over £100 billion, up to 250,000 direct and indirect jobs, and offset 202 million tons of CO₂ equivalent when compared to the emissions associated with imported gas. Egdon Resources said: “The Telegraph article relates to the potential gas resources in the Gainsborough Trough geological basin which extends across parts of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire. “The presence of these gas resources in shales and sandstones at a depth of around 2 kilometres, was proven by the drilling of the Springs Road-1 well back in 2019 and compare favourably with some of the best producing shale basins in the USA. “At present they cannot be developed due to the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for shale-gas. It’s description in the article as a “gas field” is premature as the political and regulatory conditions for its development do not exist in the UK today. “Egdon commissioned Deloitte to undertake an assessment of the potential economic, social and environmental impact that developing this gas resource could have. This has highlighted a gas resource capable of supplying over 16 trillion cubic feet of gas or around 6-7 years of current gas consumption thus offsetting significant amounts of imported gas. “Deloitte’s modelling estimates that if this was developed it would generate a GDP contribution of £140 billion, £34 billion of direct taxes, up to 250,000 direct and indirect jobs and offset 202 million tons of CO₂ equivalent when compared to the emissions associated with imported gas. To put that in context that is equivalent to the annual emissions of over 40 million cars. “As accepted by the Government and shown by the Climate Change Committee’s figures, whilst its use will reduce, gas will continue to be an important part of the UK energy mix out to 2050 and beyond. The UK will become increasingly reliant on imports as North Sea production declines. “The UK government is looking for ways to grow GDP and is increasingly reliant on overseas energy imports such as LNG, much sourced from US shale. It would therefore seem sensible for politicians to consider in a pragmatic and fact based way, the potential security of supply, fiscal, environmental and employment benefits of developing the UK’s own resources such as those present in the Gainsborough Trough. “The proposed development of Carbon Capture and Storage projects at nearby Humberside further enhance the environmental credentials of this opportunity.” The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, is among those opposed to fracking, needed to extract the gas. A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) spokesperson said: “We intend to ban fracking for good and make Britain a clean energy superpower to protect current and future generations. “The biggest risk to our energy security is staying dependent on fossil fuel markets and only by sprinting to clean power by 2030 can the UK take back control of its energy and protect both family and national finances from price spikes. “Through our Plan for Change, we will reignite our industrial heartlands as we seize the opportunities of the clean energy transition, and will continue to drive investment for businesses and communities in the UK.” A moratorium on fracking in England is in place because of an inability to predict the size, timing or location of any seismic events that take place after fracking operations. The government has also highlighted that there is no guarantee that oil and gas produced in the UK will be used here, with private companies selling to an international market. The government has a commitment not to issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields, which it is to consult on in due course.

The UK government has unveiled plans for more than 100 potential new towns, each designed to accommodate at least 10,000 homes, as part of a large-scale effort to tackle the housing crisis.

As part of the initiative, Bradford will receive £30 million to support housing expansion, making it one of the key beneficiaries of the government’s housing strategy. Additional funding includes £1.5 million for the Manchester Victoria North project and £20 million for redeveloping small council-owned sites nationwide. Other priority locations include Frome Gateway in Bristol, land south of Cayton in North Yorkshire, and Beam Park in Dagenham.

The government has pledged to deliver 1.5 million new homes before the next general election and has introduced the “new homes accelerator” programme to remove planning obstacles and speed up construction. Officials say the scheme has already unlocked 20,000 stalled homes, with further efforts underway.

The initiative follows Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s visit to the Nansledan development, a project influenced by King Charles’ planning vision. The visit underscored the government’s commitment to large-scale, well-planned housing developments that aim to increase homeownership and address demand.

Bradford’s funding boost is part of a broader strategy to revitalise housing projects across England, with large-scale developments and smaller urban regeneration efforts playing a role in the government’s long-term housing plan.

A recent salary survey highlights Leeds as an emerging tech hub, with some roles commanding salaries of up to £120,000. The city’s tech sector is growing rapidly, supported by a strong ecosystem of universities, innovation centres, and an increasing number of startups and scaleups.

While London remains the highest-paying city for tech professionals, Leeds is proving to be a competitive alternative. The study found that the average tech salary in Leeds is £62,500—about 24% lower than in London—but some roles in data, cybersecurity, and business analysis offer pay on par with the capital.

In the data sector, a head of data in Leeds can earn an average of £120,000, with potential earnings reaching £160,000. Other roles in the field include data architects (£90,000), data engineers (£62,500), and data governance analysts (£60,000). Business analysts earn an average of £52,500, while a head of transformation role in Leeds carries a salary of around £98,750—higher than the same role in London.

Cybersecurity and cloud computing are also strong areas for Leeds’ tech industry. A cybersecurity manager can expect to earn £65,000, while cloud engineers average £60,000. IT programme managers earn around £70,000, and enterprise architects see salaries of £90,000.

Leeds’ tech sector has expanded 125% faster than the national average, with software development growing at an annual rate of 20%. The city also hosts the Leeds Digital Festival, the UK’s largest open platform tech event outside London, further cementing its status as a key player in the industry.

The UK government continues to invest in the technology sector, committed to spending £20 billion annually on research and development by 2024/25. The goal is to boost R&D spending to 2.4% of GDP by 2027, positioning the UK as a global leader in data-driven innovation.

SPG Resourcing, the technology talent firm behind the salary survey, has offices in Leeds and Newcastle and provides staffing solutions across multiple industries, including financial services, healthcare, and housing.

Thousands of SMEs are being promised more opportunities to win contracts with public sector organisations, kickstarting local economic growth and innovation and creating jobs. The Government has promised to speed up and simplify procurement processes in the public sector, where £400bn is spent each year on goods and services. The changes include proposals for a major shake-up of spending rules, with local councils able to reserve contracts for small businesses to maximise spend within their area and help boost local economies. Alongside this, a new duty will be placed on firms that win contracts with government bodies to advertise jobs at job centres. Georgia Gould, Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office, said: “Businesses tell me that the current system isn’t working. It is slow, complicated and too often means small businesses in this country are shut out of public sector contracts. “These measures will change that, giving them greater opportunity to access the £400 billion spent on public procurement every year, investing in home grown talent and driving innovation and growth.” Current processes require Social Value measures on contracts, which put requirements on businesses to help bring forward positive change in communities and the country as a whole. However, there are currently multiple different approaches used across the public sector and potentially many different criteria, confusing business and making it harder to ensure the commitments made are actually delivered. The Government will be updating and streamlining the system used by all central government departments and their agencies to align it with the Government’s missions. This will make it simpler to use, giving small businesses a better chance when bidding for contracts, and will make sure companies who profit from government work give back to the community.

East Lindsey District Council is preparing to withdraw from discussions on a potential nuclear waste storage site in Lincolnshire, signaling a shift in its stance on the controversial project.

The council initially joined a Working Group in 2021 to explore the feasibility of using the former gas terminal in Theddlethorpe as a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF). However, Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), the government agency overseeing the project, has since identified a different location—four square kilometers of agricultural land between Gayton le Marsh and Great Carlton—as a preferred site.

Council leaders now argue that the new location, which has no history of industrial use and sits in a rural area near the Lincolnshire Wolds, is unsuitable for such a facility. The council has also raised concerns about additional infrastructure, including the potential construction of pylons in the area as part of the National Grid’s Grimsby to Walpole project.

As a result, East Lindsey District Council plans to withdraw from the process. However, Lincolnshire County Council remains involved, and a formal public support test is still planned for 2027. If the county council also withdraws, the siting process in Lincolnshire would likely end.

Nuclear Waste Services has acknowledged East Lindsey’s concerns and thanked the council for participating in the discussions. The agency is also considering two other potential sites in Cumbria.