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CBI and Browne Jacobson set out blueprint for national PPP framework
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and law firm Browne Jacobson have published a landmark joint report calling for a fundamental reform of the legal and commercial framework governing UK public-private partnerships (PPPs). They warn that without decisive action, Britain may continue to fall behind international competitors in mobilising private investment for social and economic infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, prisons and transport projects. The report, Pipeline to Progress:
Making UK Infrastructure Investable, sets out a comprehensive blueprint for a modern PPP programme built around six pillars: a standardised national legal architecture, proportionate risk allocation, auditable social value, flexible financial structures, strengthened governance and accountability and a clear delivery pipeline through mayoral and combined authorities. It contains more than 20 specific recommendations directed at the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), and contracting authorities, with defined timeframes for implementation of between three months and two years. The UK Government has bold ambitions to deliver 1.5 million new homes and 150 nationally significant infrastructure projects within this parliament, with plans to allocate £725bn over the next decade featuring in the 10-year infrastructure strategy. Constrained fiscal headroom and a challenging economic landscape means it is unlikely that public funds alone will achieve this. In designing a central PPP delivery body, the report draws directly on Ireland’s National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) as a blueprint, noting that by combining commercial capability, template governance and programme-level oversight, the NDFA gives investors confidence, reduces bid costs and prevents contractual drift. The full report is available at
www.brownejacobson.com/insights/ making-uk-infrastructure-investable
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New details revealed for the 2026 Serpentine Pavilion
The 2026 Serpentine Pavilion designed by Mexican architecture studio LANZA atelier, founded by Isabel Abascal and Alessandro Arienzo opens on 6 June 2026. Goldman Sachs will support the annual project for the 12th consecutive year. As the Pavilion reaches its 25th edition, Serpentine will celebrate this landmark anniversary and the legacy of inaugural Pavilion architect, Zaha Hadid, through a special collaboration with the Zaha Hadid Foundation and the Architectural Association. Throughout its history, the Serpentine Pavilion has grown into a highly anticipated showcase for emerging talents. The Pavilion has evolved over the years as a participatory public and artistic platform for Serpentine’s experimental, interdisciplinary, community and education programmes. LANZA atelier, founded in 2015 by Isabel Abascal and Alessandro Arienzo, is a
Mexico City-based architecture studio. Their collaborative practice reinterprets familiar materials and forms by paying close attention to craftmanship, technology and spatial design traditions. Their work proposes ways of building that foreground dialogue and collective experience. For this year’s Serpentine Pavilion, LANZA atelier took its inspiration from the
architecture feature known as a serpentine or crinkle-crankle wall which forms one side of the pavilion. This type of brick wall, composed of alternating curves, is commonly found in the English county Suffolk but originates in ancient Egypt and was later introduced to England by Dutch engineers. Its curvilinear form provides stability through lateral support, meaning the one-brick-wide serpentine wall requires fewer bricks than a straight wall.
Bring back city architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published a new report calling for the introduction of city architects across England. RIBA’s research highlights the potential of city architects to significantly improve the quality and sustainability of homes, places and infrastructure, speed up delivery and unlock associated gains to the nation’s health and economy. ‘Making the case for city architects’ proposes a three-year pilot programme to embed design expertise and leadership in existing combined authorities. The report uses the example of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)
to model the impact of the policy. Results showed a city architect could generate £47.6m in total additional value to the GMCA over a three-year period. This estimate is based on a conservative projection of a 1% increase in housebuilding capacity – resulting in an additional 42 homes over three years, nearly £1m in extra tax revenue, and £4.4m in additional Gross Value Added (GVA) for the Greater Manchester area. Extrapolated across the country, this could amount to hundreds of new homes and millions in local revenue generated in areas across England. This echoes research by British Land and WPI Economics, which estimated that better designed cities could save the UK economy £15.3bn by 2050. Through optimising characteristics such as connectivity and walkability, mixed-use design, proximity to amenities and access to communal spaces, a new generation of city architects is well-placed to proactively improve the places we live in. The full report can be found at
www.riba.org/campaigns/city-architects-report
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