Small nuclear reactors to power data centres? And additional updates

For PropertyGuru’s news roundup, because data centres are expected to require twice as much power by 2026, experts are now considering small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) as a possible energy source. In other stories, the New South Wales government launched the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) to speed up approval processes and boost new housing development in the state. Lastly, Indian architecture and design have moved beyond rigid geometries to celebrate fluidity and challenge conventional architectural paradigms.

Are small nuclear reactors the future of data centre power?

A major U.S. utility company recently told data centres in Northern Virginia that it could no longer connect new capacity. This is the tip of the looming energy crisis, experts say. Data centres are expected to require twice as much power by 2026, presenting a critical challenge for the industry. While renewable sources like wind and solar contribute significantly to the energy grid, they may not keep pace with skyrocketing demand. Small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) are increasingly viewed as a possible solution. Unlike large nuclear plants that take at least a decade to build and require billions in investment, SMRs offer a more scalable and potentially faster-to-market option. Listen to the discussion in this JLL podcast.

How Australia’s biggest state is supercharging new home building

Housing construction is currently falling short of the government’s targets in New South Wales but the new pathway for approvals may accelerate the development of new homes. According to PropTrack, the NSW government launched the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) last week to speed up approval processes and boost new housing development in the state. For projects that cost more than AUD60 million in Greater Sydney and AUD30 million in regional NSW, proposals will no longer need to be assessed by local councils and can instead be submitted for assessment by the HDA. In some cases, this will reduce the approval process by years. Longer approval times impact the number of projects that are built with many unable to progress to the construction phase. This is a major contributor to slowing the pace of new developments. Fewer approvals will affect the housing supply across the nation. To address this issue, the HDA plans to expedite approvals for larger projects which will deliver a substantial number of homes.

Exploring fluid forms in Indian architecture: A cultural perspective

This year marked another milestone for Indian architects in pushing the boundaries of contemporary practice nationwide. A noticeable trend among the projects featured on ArchDaily has been the embrace of fluid forms, a subtle homage to vernacular practices that parallels a gradual departure from India’s legacy of modernist design rhetoric. Indian architecture praxis has evolved to reflect a deeper engagement with local contexts alongside a willingness to experiment with global influences. This approach is likely to subsist in the coming years, opening the door for new architectural expressions in the country. In India’s case, design moves beyond rigid geometries to celebrate fluidity and challenge conventional architectural paradigms. Architects across the subcontinent reimagine spatial experiences with forms that flow, merge, and breathe. These projects continue to draw inspiration and proliferate deeply rooted cultural narratives.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].