UK News 12 February 2026 - 30 March 2026

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Starts 43 MW Scotland Battery Project, Deepening UK Power Push
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Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Starts 43 MW Scotland Battery Project, Deepening UK Power Push

Rolls-Royce has begun building a 43-megawatt battery storage facility in Falkirk, Scotland, for Voltaria Helios Energy Storage. The site will store 86 MWh, connect to the grid in 2026, and start operations in 2027, with Rolls-Royce maintaining it for 15 years. Britain aims to expand battery capacity to at least 23 GW by 2030 but faces grid and permitting delays. Siemens and GE Vernova report surging demand for power infrastructure.
April 2, 2026
NatWest Group Plc Raises Mortgage Rates Again as UK Home Loan Costs Climb
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NatWest Group Plc Raises Mortgage Rates Again as UK Home Loan Costs Climb

NatWest Group will raise mortgage rates across new and existing deals from March 31, its second increase in a week. Many rates will rise by 0.28 percentage point, with a two-year fixed purchase at 60% loan-to-value moving to 5.02%. Barclays, HSBC, and Santander have also raised rates since early March. The average UK mortgage rate reached 5.50% on March 25, the highest since August 2024.
March 30, 2026
National Grid plc signs near-£3 billion Eastern Green Link 3 contracts in UK power-grid push
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National Grid plc signs near-£3 billion Eastern Green Link 3 contracts in UK power-grid push

National Grid has signed nearly £3 billion in contracts for the Eastern Green Link 3 project, awarding Hitachi Energy the converter stations and NKT the cable system. The 690-km link between Scotland and England aims to carry electricity for about 2 million homes. Construction is planned for 2028, pending approval, with operation targeted for 2033. The English section still requires a development consent order.
March 6, 2026
UK Mortgage Approvals Set to Rise in H1 2026 as Broker Flags “Positive Momentum”
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UK Mortgage Approvals Set to Rise in H1 2026 as Broker Flags “Positive Momentum”

Alexander Hall forecasts UK mortgage purchase approvals to average 62,286 in Q1 and 64,196 in Q2 2026, with remortgage approvals rising to 48,257 by Q2. The firm cites competitive pricing and more deals as drivers. UK Finance says 1.8 million fixed-rate mortgages are set to expire. The Bank of England held its rate at 3.75% in February, with future moves uncertain.
February 27, 2026
Lloyds branch closures surge: 95 more UK bank branches to shut — is your Halifax or Bank of Scotland branch on the list?
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Lloyds branch closures surge: 95 more UK bank branches to shut — is your Halifax or Bank of Scotland branch on the list?

Lloyds Banking Group will close 95 branches across Britain between May 2026 and March 2027, including 53 Lloyds Bank, 31 Halifax, and 11 Bank of Scotland sites. The closures bring the total planned for 2026 and 2027 to at least 168. Lloyds cited increased digital banking demand. Some affected towns will receive new banking hubs to maintain cash access.
February 12, 2026