26 projects aimed at improving passenger experience on the railway have been launched, supported by £5 million of government funding.
The competition is being run in partnership with Innovate UK, working closely with Network Rail and train operators. It offers grant funding for innovative projects to be tested on the railway, to give them a better chance at being bought by train operators, freight companies and Network Rail.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Darren Jones to the new role of chief secretary to the Prime Minister.
His previous role as chief secretary to the Treasury will now be filled by James Murray, previously the exchequer secretary at the department. Murray's old role will be taken on by Dan Tomlinson.
Communications director James Lyon will also be leaving his role. Steph Driver, the other communications director, will be staying in place.

The government has announced £104 million to improve local transport, including cleaner buses and safer cycling routes.
Local authorities will be able to spend the money to drive forward schemes that boost growth and matter most to their communities. For example, this could include new zero emission buses, improving accessibility, reducing congestion and making streets safer with improved lighting and crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.

The government is funding childcare for 30 hours a week.
Take-up is already expected to be over and above initial projections.
29 per cent of parents have said that the support will enable them to up their work hours.
9 in 10 families have secured one of their top three preferred providers.

Transport Scotland has launched its Cross Pavement Charging Grant pilot programme, which will fund the installation of charging solutions in East Lothian, Renfrewshire and Perth and Kinross, with other local authorities also expressing an interest to take part.
Grants of up to £3,500 per household will be available for solutions such as pavement gulley technology or pop-up bollards.

Oxford Street will go traffic-free on Sunday 21st September to show the potential benefits of it being permanently pedestrianised.
Half a mile of the street will be pedestrianised from 12pm until 8pm for the This is Oxford Street event.
The event will bring together fashion, food, music, sport, music, heritage and community in one place.
The Mayor of London has plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street and supercharge regeneration in the area. A public consultation showed that seven in ten Londoners are in favour of regeneration and two thirds are pro pedestrianisation.

£300,000 of Welsh Government funding has transformed Ponthir’s local Sports and Community club into a vibrant multi-use facility supporting sport, education, and community life.
Ponthir Sports and Community Club in Torfaen has used the funding to build a brand-new clubhouse with flexible rooms for community use, and to convert the original building into four modern changing rooms.
The carpark has also been resurfaced to make the site more accessible and welcoming.

The government has confirmed £600 million to extend the Holiday Activities and Food programme for another three years. 
The programme supports children from lower-income families by providing free meals and enriching activities during school holidays.  
School-aged children from reception to year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals are eligible.  
Andrew Forsey OBE, National Director of Feeding Britain said: "Today’s news will be welcomed by hundreds of thousands of parents across England.

The government has announced funding for the the construction of two new indoor cricket domes to enable access to the sport throughout the winter.
The domes will allow communities in Luton and Lancashire to play throughout the year.
The government is investing £1.5 million to help the England and Wales Cricket Board to build high-class facilities in areas that are lacking suitable places to play. 
The domes will improve access ahead of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup. Participation among women and girls rose by more than a fifth in 2024.

The New Homes Accelerator has helped to speed up the building of almost 100,000 homes throughout England.
Nearly 100,000 homes on large developments that were previously stuck in the planning system are being supported to progress more quickly.
The New Homes Accelerator has been working to address challenges that were holding back development on large consented sites, by leveraging resource and expertise available to government and Homes England.