Global Scans · Construction · Weekly Summary

---

WHAT'S NEXT?: 65 per cent of global construction growth for the next decade will happen in emerging markets. Smart cities, sustainable construction, greater urbanization and pre-fabricated buildings will all play their part in future construction growth.

• [New] If successfully scaled, carbon-negative materials like ESM could become a cornerstone of sustainable construction and play a meaningful role in global climate strategies. Net Zero Compare
• [New] Low-carbon or carbon-negative materials are expected to be central to decarbonizing the global construction sector. Net Zero Compare
• [New] Underground construction is roughly twice as expensive per foot as aerial, and local permitting and make-ready rules - key policy focus areas going into 2026 - remain critical friction points. Cartesian
• [New] The United Kingdom has big plans for its nuclear sector, with the construction of two conventional nuclear plants underway and plans to develop small modular reactor (SMR) technology. oilprice.com
• [New] Improvements to roads, bridges, and other infrastructure could take a hit as data center construction accelerates. Yahoo Finance
• [New] ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) is a giant experimental fusion reactor under construction in France which, when operational, will be the world's largest. Engadget
• [New] When the All-Electric Building Act goes into effect, New York's new buildings under seven stories will be constructed with efficient and affordable all-electric appliances. BUILDING DECARBONIZATION COALITION
• [New] Construction sector sentiment has improved, and most companies expect increased activity in 2026. Cushman & Wakefield
• [New] UK government allocates £725M to expand apprenticeships in engineering, construction, and hospitality, targeting 50,000 new roles by 2026. Ainvest
• [New] Engineers from across the globe will collaborate within a perfect 1:1 digital replica of a factory floor to design new production lines, simulate workflows, and identify potential bottlenecks long before physical construction begins. INAIRSPACE
• [New] The EU set targets for energy savings and on protecting vulnerable households from energy poverty and has obligations on reducing primary energy use in residential buildings and increasing the share of renewables in heating and electricity (Directive 2023/2413). Bruegel | The Brussels-based economic think tank
• [New] The European Commission wants 60 million heat-pump installations by 2030 as part of a move to replace 68 million gas and 18 million oil boilers in use in residential buildings. Bruegel | The Brussels-based economic think tank
• [New] Revenues from the EU Social Climate Fund and the emissions trading system for buildings and transport could be directed towards building-decarbonisation schemes to make homes greener and more affordable in the long term. Bruegel | The Brussels-based economic think tank
• [New] Polar Night Energy is the prime contractor for the Verks sand battery project, with construction due to start in early 2026 and be completed in the summer of 2027. GIGAZINE
• [New] If China can continue advancing the construction of its 'new power system' - a term it uses to describe the increasing use of renewables with coal taking on more of a supporting role - then permitting rates could dip even lower in the coming five years, compared to 2025. MarketScreener
• [New] Google and Westinghouse have joined forces to optimize the construction and operation of 10 planned nuclear reactors slated to begin construction in 2030. DataCenterKnowledge

Last updated: 17 December 2025