Tag: Housing and Communities

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 13 October 2025.

Pro-growth changes to the government’s landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill to get Britain building faster.

• New measures to slash delays and get Britain building faster through landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill 
• New powers for Secretary of State could stop councils rejecting planning permissions, tackle blockers in the courts, alongside plans to accelerate reservoirs, windfarms and large housing schemes   
• Turbocharging the Plan for Change to create high-paying jobs, put money back into people’s pockets, and secure more homegrown clean energy

New homes, more clean energy, and greater water security will be within reach for hundreds of thousands of working people and families, as the government vows to sweep aside blockers standing in the way of growth and dismantle barriers to get Britain building.   

A pro-growth package announced by the government this week (Tuesday 14 October) will look at supporting the full potential of the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill – a key driver for growth to slash planning delays currently shackling the UK economy.    

If voted through, Ministers will get new powers to prevent applications being rejected by local councils while they consider using ‘call-in’ powers to decide whether or not they should be approved. Currently some councils are dragging their feet to get on and build with nearly 900 major housing schemes blocked in the past year alone.    

New proposed measures would greenlight reservoirs faster, pumping fresh water into the taps of people’s homes, and unlocking new opportunities for housebuilding after more than 30 years without a new reservoir in the UK.  

Pro-growth changes will pave the way for cleaner energy, including onshore windfarms, to drive millions of pounds of investment into local areas, prevent bill hikes and create thousands of new jobs.  

Allowing Natural England to streamline its role by freeing it up to make sensible choices on when to provide advice to local authorities will free up valuable resources. This will enable the organisation to focus on higher priority planning applications and nature recovery, helping to accelerate approvals for new homes and infrastructure.   

Under government plans builders will also receive a helping hand to stop planning permissions from being timed out on vital housing projects tied up in the courts, accelerating and unlocking stalled schemes so money can be better spent on getting spades in the ground rather than starting back at square one. 

If passed, each of these pro-growth changes will accelerate the government’s Plan for Change to build 1.5 million homes, achieve clean power by 2030, raise living standards in every corner of the country and put more money back into working people’s pockets.

Housing Secretary, Steve Reed said:

“Britain’s potential has been shackled by governments unwilling to overhaul the stubborn planning system that has erected barriers to building at every turn. It is simply not true that nature has to lose for economic growth to succeed. 
  
“Sluggish planning has real world consequences. Every new house blocked deprives a family of a home. Every infrastructure project that gets delayed blocks someone from a much-needed job. This will now end.    
  
“The changes we are making today will strengthen the seismic shift already underway through our landmark Bill. We will ‘Build, baby, build’ with 1.5 million new homes and communities that working people desperately want and need.”

As the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill rapidly continues its way through Parliament and is set to become law this year, this week’s wide-ranging package fully embraces the government’s drive to go further and faster in unleashing the biggest era of building in the country’s history. Key changes include:

• Ministers will be able to issue ‘holding directions’ to stop councils refusing planning permission whilst they consider using their ‘call-in’ powers. Under existing rules, they can only issue these holds when council are set to approve applications. This will ensure Ministers can properly use their call-in powers where necessary to boost growth and build more homes.  
• Speeding up the approvals for large reservoirs by enabling non-water sector companies to build reservoirs that are automatically considered as nationally significant infrastructure projects.  
• Unlocking more onshore windfarms, securing around 3GW of onshore wind and up to £2 billion extra investment for UK based businesses, whilst safeguarding UK defence and seismic detection capabilities.
• Stopping planning permissions from being timed out for approved major housing schemes facing lengthy judicial reviews, building on existing measures to cut back meritless legal challenges for major infrastructure projects from three to one and slashing a year off the statutory pre-consultation period.    
• Securing a win-win across land and sea by allowing the Nature Restoration Fund to support the delivery of marine development, securing better environmental outcomes for marine habitats whilst accelerating the construction of coastal projects.  
• Natural England is currently wasting precious resources because they are required by law to respond to every query from local authorities that relates to nature. Streamlining Natural England’s role will speed up approvals for new homes and infrastructure by reducing unnecessary duplication and allowing greater discretion to focus on applications that pose higher risks or present stronger opportunities for nature recovery, with standard guidance provided to local authorities for straightforward cases.

Thanks to new pro-growth reforms, the government remains firmly on track to make 150 planning decisions on major infrastructure projects, with a record breaking 21 decisions in the first year of any Parliament, and has already greenlit projects including hot-off-the-wheels Gatwick airport expansion and the long-awaited Lower Thames Crossing.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

“The outdated planning system has been gummed up by burdensome bureaucracy and held to ransom by blockers for too long.  

“Our pro-growth planning bill shows we are serious about cutting red tape to get Britain building again, backing the builders not the blockers to speed up projects and show investors that we are a country that gets spades in the ground and our economy growing.”

This announcement follows the Housing Secretary’s commitment to ‘Build, baby, build’, as the government begins to embark on the next phase of reforms to remove every barrier to build 1.5 million homes this Parliament as well as accelerate the construction of major infrastructure including roads, railways, and solar farms.    

Planning reforms already made by the government will alone drive housebuilding to its highest level in over 40 years, and this does not account for measures to be brought forward through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.  

The government’s own analysis confirmed earlier this year that changes to get Britain building could benefit the economy by up to £7.5 billion over the next 10 years.

Further information:

The government’s package of amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill can be read in full here.

The landmark Bill is set to return to the House of Lords for its Report Stage on Monday 20 October.

John Foster, CBI Chief Policy & Campaigns Officer, said:

“The CBI welcomes the latest amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill as an important signal that the government wants to go further and faster in reforming our inefficient planning system.  

“Action that cuts delays to planning processes and simplifies environmental approvals is critical to getting projects moving faster and unlocking the economic growth the country needs. 

“Allowing ministers to act decisively on major applications, streamlining Natural England oversight, and broadening investment to key assets like reservoirs will unlock significant investment across the country.” 

Vicky Evans, UKIMEA Cities, Planning and Design Leader, Arup, said:

“Investing in critical infrastructure, such as housing, clean energy, and water security, is crucial to unlocking economic growth and building a sustainable, low-carbon future. 

“The amendments put down by the government today are an important step forward in streamlining the planning system which will help significantly to speed up the delivery of water and energy infrastructure, and new homes.” 

Ana Musat, RenewableUK’s Director of Policy and Engagement said:

“We have ambitious targets across various clean technologies and our grid infrastructure to ensure we deliver the government’s Clean Power 2030 mission, and the measures outlined today represent a vital step towards realising these whilst protecting our environment and enabling local businesses and billpayers to directly feel the benefits. 

“Onshore wind is one of the quickest and cheapest technologies to build and we welcome these proposals to ensure we can fully capitalise on this through a more efficient planning process, potentially enabling up to 3GW of capacity and £2 billion in additional investment for local businesses. Additionally, we welcome the introduction of the Nature Restoration Fund, which will work alongside the upcoming Marine Recovery Fund to deliver a joined-up approach to protecting the UK’s precious species and habitats while we construct and connect our substantial pipeline of clean energy projects. This will dovetail with the reduced administrative burden on Natural England, which will be freeing up its resources to work collaboratively on solutions to support the deployment of renewables.”

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 13 October 2025.

The Local Government Pension Scheme is one of the largest pension schemes in the world, with over 6.7 million members and £400 billion of assets.

Ministers are consulting on restoring access to the Local Government Pension Scheme for councillors in England and extending it to mayors. 

The proposed reforms would align England with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland where elected members already have access. 

The proposals will show locally elected leaders the respect they deserve as dedicated public servants. This comes as local government reorganisation and devolution continue to reshape councils across England, the responsibilities held by mayors and councillors are expanding significantly. 

Other measures being consulted on include: 

• Making it simpler for Multi-Academy Trusts to apply for their staff from different schools to be in the same pension fund; 
• Implementing new Fair Deal protections ensuring workers outsourced from local government keep seamless access to the Local Government Pension Scheme. 

The LGPS is one of the largest pension schemes in the world, with over 6.7 million members and £400 billion of assets under management. The scheme serves those who work in local government including waste collectors, school staff including teaching assistants and dinner ladies, library managers and parks workers. 

The consultation follows earlier reforms announced by the government this year focusing on investment pooling and local investment, designed to unlock the scheme’s full investment potential as it approaches £1 trillion in assets by 2030. 

The consultation will run until December 22.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 5 October 2025.

Hundreds of thousands of first-time buyers set to save £710 on average when buying a home, along with vital time and energy, thanks to the biggest shakeup to the homebuying system in this country’s history. 

Proposals unveiled by the government today (Monday 6 October) will speed up the long-drawn out and costly process of buying a home by four weeks, saving people money and unnecessary stress, alongside wider reforms to rewire a chaotic system which has become a barrier to homeownership.  

It will see sellers and estate agents required under the plans to provide buyers with vital information about a property upfront, including the condition of the home, leasehold costs, and chains of people waiting to move. This will help end nasty surprises which result in last-minute collapses and give greater confidence to first-time buyers making one of life’s most important decisions. 

Binding contracts could also be introduced to stop people walking away from agreements after buyers painstakingly spend months in negotiations. This will help halve the number of failed transactions, so precious time and money don’t go to waste, as well as avoid heartbreak and stress for hard-working people looking for the perfect home.  

Housing Secretary, Steve Reed, said:  

Buying a home should be a dream, not a nightmare. 

Our reforms will fix the broken system so hardworking people can focus on the next chapter of their lives. 

Through our Plan for Change we are putting more money back into working people’s pockets and making a simple dream a simple reality.

Thanks to new reforms proposed today, families could see clear, side-by-side information on estate agents and conveyancers – including their track record and expertise, alongside new mandatory qualifications and Code of Practice to drive up standards and rebuild trust in the industry.   

These proposals will speed up the sluggish housing market by halving the number of failed sales, costing the economy £1.5 billion a year, and the government estimates reforms could accelerate transactions by around four weeks. A full roadmap to fix the broken system will be set out in the new year.  

This follows the Housing Secretary’s latest pledge to ‘Build, baby, build’, leaving no stone unturned to build 1.5 million homes and break down the remaining barriers to development that stand in the way of meeting this target.  

The latest housing supply figures show some green shoots of recovery, with a 29% increase in housing starts compared to last year, and the government is going further and faster to unleash the biggest era of housebuilding in the country’s history.   

Rightmove CEO Johan Svanstrom said:  

We welcome the announcement today aiming to drive forward that much needed change and modernisation. The development of technology means transformation is possible, with the right collaboration and considerate planning. 

The home-moving process involves many fragmented parts, and there’s simply too much uncertainty and costs along the way. Speed, connected data and stakeholder simplicity should be key goals. We believe it’s important to listen to agents as the experts for what practical changes will be most effective, and we look forward to working with the government on this effort to improve the buying and selling process.” 

Paul Whitehead CEO at Zoopla said,  

The homebuying process in the UK remains far too long, too complex, too uncertain and has seen far less digital innovation than many other sectors.  

Consumers are clear in their desire for greater transparency and confidence when making life’s biggest purchase and improving the visibility of trusted information earlier in the buying process is a key part of speeding up the journey. 

The property industry recognises the benefits that greater certainty and digital transformation could bring. Introducing legally binding contracts alongside better use of digital solutions has the potential to unlock significant demand and reduce failed transactions.  

At Zoopla, we are committed to working closely with industry and government, and to investing our resources, to help build a modern property ecosystem that is faster, more transparent, and trusted by all.” 

David Morris, Head of Homes, Santander UK said:  

At a time when technology has changed many processes in our lives, it is incredible that the process of buying a home – an activity that is a cornerstone of our economy – remains much the same for today’s buyers as it did for their grandparents. Our recent report, “Fixing the Broken Chain” highlighted how our antiquated system is holding back economic and individual growth, causing property transactions to collapse, and deterring buyers and sellers from entering the market at all. 

This consultation reinforces our view that, as an industry, we have the opportunity to fix the system and now is the time to seize it. We’re ready to work together with Government and all those involved in the homebuying process to move this discussion into action and create a system fit for today’s buyers and sellers.” 

Henry Jordan, Nationwide’s Group Director of Mortgages, said:  

Buying a home is often complex and stressful, which is why the homebuying process needs to be simplified and streamlined for the benefit of consumers, brokers and lenders. But to tackle this issue effectively, we must collaborate. That is why we look forward to working closely with government and the wider industry to modernise the homebuying process, so that buyers are given certainty earlier and to help reduce any unnecessary costs. The measures being consulted on, along with digitalisation and technology, are a major part of how we will get there.

Paula Higgins, CEO of HomeOwners Alliance, said:  

We are absolutely delighted to see the government taking decisive action to overhaul the homebuying process. Requiring material information to be provided upfront will make buying and selling homes faster, fairer and less stressful — giving families and first-time buyers the confidence they need when making such a major financial commitment. This is something we at the HomeOwners Alliance have long campaigned for, as our own research shows how lack of upfront information leads to delays, failed sales and unnecessary costs. 

We also strongly welcome the commitment to raise standards through better regulation and qualifications for estate agents. These reforms will help rebuild trust in the industry and ensure consumers are properly protected.” 

Kate Faulkner OBE, Chair of the Home Buying and Selling Council, said: 

Buying and selling a home has never been more complex for buyers, sellers and the home moving industry. By working together we can turn today’s challenges into a better experience for the next million moves. There has never been a better moment to address these challenges positively, and I welcome the government’s commitment to driving the changes needed for consumers and the many dedicated professionals who support them to make it smoother, safer and less risky.”   

Justin Young, CEO at RICS, said:  

RICS has long supported reform of the home buying and selling process, which is too often stressful, costly, and uncertain for buyers and sellers. The Government’s commitment to an industry-wide consultation is a vital step forward, and RICS will bring its expertise to the table. By embedding transparency, professionalism, and innovation into the process, we can help build a housing market that works better for everyone.” 

Nathan Emerson, CEO at Propertymark, said:  

Propertymark welcomes the UK Government’s renewed commitment to reforming the home buying and selling process, with a clear focus on digitisation, transparency, and stronger consumer protection – all underpinned by mandatory professional qualifications for property agents.  

Embedding recognised standards is essential to raising professionalism, giving consumers greater confidence, and ensuring consistently higher levels of service. 

Equally, it is vital that reforms are evidence-based and informed by those who understand the realities of the sector on the ground. Agents work with buyers and sellers every day, and their experience will be crucial to ensure changes are practical, proportionate, and effective.” 

Mark Evans, Law Society of England and Wales Vice-President, said:  

We welcome and share the government’s commitment to improve the home buying and selling experience. We know that many feel that the conveyancing process is slow and complicated. It can also be confusing as to who should be doing what, and there is the risk of duplication of effort. Information is often not available as quickly or as easily as it should be. Making the right reforms would help address all of these issues. 

Improving the conveyancing process for buyers and sellers and making it fit for the 21st century involves making the appropriate changes to the whole system, not just one aspect of it. We are keen to work with our members, government and all those involved in the conveyancing market to make sure the right reforms are enacted.” 

Beth Rudolf, Director of Delivery at The Conveyancing Association, said:  

The Conveyancing Association welcomes these reforms, which we and other industry stakeholders have long campaigned for, in order to deliver a better home selling and purchase experience for all.  

By ensuring vital information is provided upfront, consumers and industry alike will benefit from greater certainty, reduced risk of fall-throughs and a faster, less stressful process. This is an important step towards the modern, transparent and efficient homebuying system that families and professionals have been calling for.   

These reforms have both the ability to enable conveyancing lawyers to be proactive, and to support estate agents to comply with the law.

Further information

• The government is consulting on new proposals to transform the homebuying and selling process and will work with industry, which include:
• Sellers and estate agents must publish information from searches and surveys before a property listing is published. This will enable buyers to see the physical condition, characteristics, and flood risk of the property online. It will enable buyers to make informed decisions sooner and sellers will benefit from faster transactions, resulting in fewer costly fall-throughs.   
• The full list of proposed mandatory upfront information includes: tenure, council tax band, EPC rating, property type, legal and transactional information such as title information and seller ID verification, leasehold terms, building safety data, standard searches, property condition assessments tailored to property age and type, service charges, planning consents, flood risk data, chain status, and clear floor plans.  
• Buyers and sellers will have the option to sign binding contracts that would end the practice of parties pulling out of agreements months into the process, costing families heartbreak and hundreds of pounds.  
• Deploying the use of digital tools – including digital property logbooks, digital ID verification, and standardised data sharing – enhancing transparency and security for buyers and sellers.  
• Introduce mandatory qualifications and ‘Code of Practice’ for estate, letting and managing agents, driving high standards in the sector and increase trust in the industry.   
• The government will publish information on the services of estate agents and property lawyers, so consumers are well informed on how and where to get help.  
• The average time from instruction to completion is over 5 months, and the government estimates these reforms could speed up transactions by around four weeks.
• The Home Buying and Selling Reform consultation launched today can be found here:Home buying and selling reform – GOV.UK.
• The Material Information Consultation can also be found here: Material information in property listings – GOV.UK. This further consultation will support estate agents with their legal responsibilities, including requirements under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. This will aim to help provide explicit guidance for estate agents on what information they should include in property listings.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 24 September 2025.

Local communities will be handed new powers to revitalise their high streets and restore pride in their towns.

• Communities will be handed unprecedented new powers to seize boarded shops, save derelict pubs and block gambling and vape shops on their high street. 
• Prime Minister to announce “Pride in Place” Programme with historic funding to invest in over 330 of our most overlooked communities. 
• The measures form the largest transfer of power from Whitehall to communities in history through the Plan for Change.

People will be given the power to revitalise their neglected high streets, create new spaces for young people and take back control of derelict pubs, to breathe new life into neglected communities up and down the country. 

Communities will be handed new powers to seize boarded up shops, save their treasured local pubs or libraries and clean up the eyesores in their area.  

Local people will finally have the powers to put things right after years of decline – an inheritance the government is determined to fix through the Plan for Change.   

This is about choosing a future where communities are empowered to come together, rather than be divided, and where renewal is chosen over decline. 
Prime Minister Keir Starmer will unveil the Pride in Place programme – an unprecedented programme backed by record funding – that lets local people call the shots on where and how money is spent in their communities, restoring local pride and helping them reclaim their streets.  

For far too long, communities have been dictated to rather than in control of their own destiny. This week marks a new way of governing. By choosing renewal over decline, this government is delivering lasting change working people will feel.

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed said:

“When people step out of their front doors, they know their communities are struggling. They see shuttered pubs, fading high streets and their local areas in decline.  

“Yes, communities have been stretched – but they haven’t given up. They’re working hard to make things better, and we’re backing them.  

“The Government is putting power into their hands so local people decide how best to restore pride in their neighbourhoods, not us in Westminster.  

“That’s what real patriotism looks like: building up our communities and choosing renewal over division.”

The nationwide Pride in Place programme – which will be unveiled by the Prime Minister (Thursday, 25 September) – will deliver a record investment and support over 330 communities in total. It will tackle deep-rooted deprivation and regional inequality through wide-ranging action, including:

• Community Right to Buy: handing local people the power to buy beloved assets, helping them turn around derelict pubs, create new parks and regenerate treasured spaces in the heart of their communities.  
• Compulsory Purchase powers: allowing communities in England to acquire assets and eyesores like boarded up shops and derelict abandoned businesses, allowing new local start-ups to thrive. For larger sites – like disused department stores or abandoned office blocks – it could even see new health centres opening up, or local housing to help reach our target of 1.5 million homes. 
• Power to block unwanted shops: empowering councils in England to say no to new betting shops, vapes stores and fake barbers.  
• Giving residents the power: we will only approve spending if community groups, local organisations and social clubs have been included in decisions on how the money should be spent – putting real power in local hands and giving them a proper say over their community.

Further information

We are looking at new powers that would give communities more control over where betting shops can open, and how many there can be in one area. This is about giving people a say over their high street, particularly where there are high numbers of these types of shop already, not blocking these shops altogether.  

We are also looking at accelerating ways communities can take ownership of empty shops – helping to give them a greater say over what’s on their high streets, so they don’t just end up with rows of vape shops, gambling shops and barbers. The government is already bringing in new laws to crack down on dodgy vape shops through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. 

We will only approve spending if Pride in Place Boards have genuinely engaged their communities, so that community groups, local organisations and social clubs have been included in decisions on how the money should be spent. 

We are announcing a raft of new powers and programmes to empower communities across the UK. Please note that some powers and programmes will not apply in every nation of the UK.  

The Pride in Place funding will be delivered in England, Scotland and Wales, with corresponding funding provided to Northern Ireland. The government will be working closely with the Scottish and Welsh Governments to design specific programmes which put the principles of the strategy of community engagement at the centre. Further detail on Northern Ireland, including support for Belfast, will follow.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 22 September 2025.

Largest number of major infrastructure projects green-lit by the current government in the first year of a Parliament.

• Largest number of major infrastructure projects green-lit in the first year of a Parliament in push to ‘build, baby, build’
• Record 21 decisions made on major infrastructure projects in the first year of this Parliament – including new wind farms, roads and airport expansions – with government urgently working on a building acceleration package to get Britain building
• With the help of reforms in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that will speed up the consenting process for major economic infrastructure, the government is firmly on track to meet its Plan for Change 150 decisions target, helping to create thousands of jobs and put money back into people’s pockets

Tens of thousands of people will benefit from cleaner energy, quicker commutes to work and more flights for holidays after the government fast tracked decisions on major infrastructure projects. 

The government has green-lit the largest number of major infrastructure projects in the first year of a Parliament in history, with 21 major infrastructure planning decisions made in the government’s first year.

Projects greenlighted include the Lower Thames Crossing, Mona Offshore Windfarm, Simister Island development in the Manchester area and the expansion to Gatwick airport.

Each one of these decisions means easier commutes for people in the mornings, better protection from fossil fuel price spikes, opening the door for cheaper holidays with more flights.

These decisions have secured a boom in thousands of good skilled clean energy jobs across the country in places such as Sussex, North Wales and Teesside.

Earlier this year the Prime Minister set the government a target of 150 planning decisions on major infrastructure projects as part of the Plan for Change.

Thanks to the pro-growth reforms in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, including the removal of onerous statutory pre-application requirements and cutting back meritless legal challenges from three to one, the government remains on track to meet this target and make sure Britain is once again a destination for major investment and growth.

The Housing Secretary Steve Reed will visit the Lower Thames Crossing area (23 September) to see for himself how the project will improve journeys for millions of people each year.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said:

“We are backing our builders, brickies and businesses to get Britain building.

“We’ve already said yes to major projects that will create more well-paid jobs providing clean power and new roads.

“We will go further to streamline planning rules to speed up new homes, data centres and businesses that will put an affordable home and well-paid job within reach of people in every part of our country.”

Further reforms are building on this, with an update expected on the next generation of new towns, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill remaining on track to become law and unveiling new plans to build up and build out on brownfield sites faster.  

Today’s announcement follows the Housing Secretary’s commitment to ‘build, baby, build’ and remove every barrier to build 1.5 million homes this Parliament.  

This new record of 21 decisions eclipses the previous Parliament’s first-year record of 15 and marks a significant milestone for this government’s ambition to make 150 decisions. The previous government saw a total of 57 decisions during its full term between December 2019 to May 2024.

A further four decisions have been made by the government in its second year, bringing the current total to 25, with a further 10 projects currently on the table. This historic progress means Britain is building the roads, railways and energy connections needed to help towns and cities grow and local economies thrive.  

Key decisions include:

• The Lower Thames Crossing, approved under this government, will drive growth by tackling congestion that costs the UK millions every year and create a strategic new trade route between the ports of the south-east, midlands and north. Construction will support 22,000 jobs across the area and once completed it is projected to provide £200 million a year from better connections and less congestion.
• The Mona Offshore Wind Farm located in the Irish Sea and the Rampion 2 Offshore Wind Farm located off the Sussex coast, which combined can produce enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of nearly 3 million homes. Together, these projects secure thousands of jobs and 2.7 GW of clean, secure, homegrown power for British families and businesses. This acceleration towards clean energy will create the jobs of the future across the UK.
• The Viking CSS Pipeline in Lincolnshire which could support 20,000 jobs and boost the decarbonising industry in the Humber, creating opportunities for local people.
• The M60/M62/M66 Simister Island development, three miles south of Bury, which will make commuting quicker for more than 90,000 people every day.
• Gatwick Airport’s application to expand its operations through routine use of its existing northern runway after the Transport Secretary issued a letter (21 September) confirming her approval following careful consideration.

Work is also ongoing at pace to make it easier to build digital infrastructure, such as laboratories and gigafactories by updating the National Planning Policy Framework and pressures facing local planning authorities will be eased through £46 million of investment to strengthen their capacity, alongside the recruitment and training of over 300 planners.

This builds on the £150 billion of inward investment which the UK secured from US companies during the US President’s state visit, creating more than 7,600 high-quality jobs and accelerating growth in sectors of the future.

Further information

21 decisions were signed off in the first year of government; so far four decisions have been made in the second year, bringing the total to 25, with more projects expected to be decided before the end of the year.  

List of approved major infrastructure projects so far include:

• Gate Burton Energy Park
• Mallard Pass Solar Project
• Sunnica Energy Farm
• Cottam Solar Project
• Bramford to Twinstead
• Immingham Eastern Ro-Ro Terminal
• Rivenhall IVMF and Energy Centre
• Heckington Fen Solar Park
• West Burton Solar Project
• Immingham Green Energy Terminal
• North Lincolnshire Green Energy Park
• Lower Thames Crossing
• London Luton Airport Expansion
• Rampion 2 Offshore Wind Farm
• Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant
• Viking CCS Pipeline
• East Yorkshire Solar Farm
• M5 Junction 10 Improvement Scheme
• Oaklands Farm Solar Park
• Mona Offshore Windfarm
• Byers Gill Solar
• Morgan Offshore Wind Project
• M60/M62/M66 Simister Island
• London Gatwick Airport Expansion

The news is part of a year of activity to overhaul the planning system to speed up the delivery of much needed infrastructure and the homes we need, including:

• Making it easier to build digital infrastructure, such as laboratories and gigafactories by updating the National Planning Policy Framework, alongside introducing targets to boost housebuilding in the areas most in need – the changes to the NPPF last December led the OBR to forecast the highest level of housebuilding in 40 years and an additional £6.8 billion of growth by 2029/30;
• Changing the rules to prevent major infrastructure projects being held up in the courts and help get Britain building following independent recommendations – data shows that in recent years 58% of all decisions on major infrastructure projects were taken to court, compared to the long-term average of 10%; 
• Removing statutory consultation requirements for major infrastructure – which could add £1 billion to the economy and speed up decisions by up to 12 months;
• Delivering the biggest boost to affordable housing in a generation with £39 billion announced at the Spending Review; and    
• Making £16 billion of new public investment to help build over 500,000 new homes through a National Housing Bank, unlocking over £53 billion of private investment.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 26 August 2025.

The New Homes Accelerator has helped to remove blockages and speed up the building of almost 100,000 homes across England.

Nearly 100,000 new homes on large developments previously stuck in the planning system, or which were simply not progressing as fast as they should be, are now being given support to progress more quickly.

The New Homes Accelerator has addressed challenges that were holding back development on scores of large consented sites across the country by leveraging resource and expertise available to government and its housing and regeneration agency, Homes England.

Working families and young people will benefit as homes to buy and rent are built more quickly thanks to this important government intervention – helping more people get on the housing ladder, tackling the housing crisis while creating local jobs and boosting economic growth.

The New Homes Accelerator – a specialist programme established last year to get spades in the ground more quickly by cutting through barriers to rapid development – has already intervened through targeted support, including providing local areas with additional planning capacity and removing regulatory hurdles, to help speed up the delivery of 36,000 new homes across England that were not building out as fast as they should have.

The team has also driven forward planning proposals for another 63,000 homes through close engagement with arms-length bodies and other government departments, helping to unlock growth and make a real difference for future generations.

The expert team will now tackle specific problems on six new sites including Comeytrowe, also known as Orchard Grove, in Somerset, Wisley Airfield in Guildford, North Leigh Park in Wigan and Hampden Fields in Aylesbury, alongside two further sites confirmed in London, at Billet Road and High Road West. Together, targeted support through the Accelerator will expedite the delivery of over 12,000 homes with at least 25% affordable housing across all sites.

The intervention supports wider government reforms to tackle the country’s housing crisis and deliver our 1.5 million homes Plan for Change mission. The government also overhauled the National Planning Policy Framework, pushed forward with the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and invested £39 billion into the Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner said:

“We’ve rolled up our sleeves and are breaking down the barriers which stop us from building the houses to buy and rent that families and young people need, helping to speed up the delivery of tens of thousands of new homes already.

“We are continuing to take decisive action through our New Homes Accelerator to speed up the delivery of homes, meet our stretching 1.5 million homes target through the Plan for Change, and get spades in the ground to turn the tide on the housing crisis.”

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said:

“I’m pleased the government is working with London boroughs to unblock housebuilding as part of its plan to deliver the good growth our country needs. I’m determined to use all the powers at my disposal to build the homes Londoners need and get Britain building again.

“I look forward to working with Ministers on the action and investment needed to accelerate the delivery of new homes as we continue building a better, fairer London for everyone.”

Since it was launched by the Deputy Prime Minister in August 2024, the programme has focused on removing the planning and regulatory bottlenecks, enabling thousands of potential housing developments to progress more quickly.

Breakthrough progress is already happening at sites such as Worcestershire Parkway where 4,500 homes will be delivered, with the New Homes Accelerator working hand-in-hand with councils and housebuilders to fast-track delivery.

At the Wisley Airfield site in Guildford, the Accelerator has already helped Taylor Wimpey start on site by facilitating quick responses from statutory consultees, providing strategic support to the local planning authority, getting spades in the ground and begin work on the necessary infrastructure.

This site will deliver three new neighbourhoods of 1,730 homes, of which 40% will be Affordable Homes, and includes shops, sports and social facilities, as well as a school surrounded by a large public park.

Further information

The New Homes Accelerator is working across government to engage with arms-length bodies and other departments to streamline the delivery of housing and infrastructure, ensuring progress through the planning process, which has already helped to remove blockages in the system.

New sites set to benefit from the latest New Homes Accelerator support include:

• At Wisley Airfield in Guildford.
• At Hampden Fields in Aylesbury.
• At Comeytrowe Garden Community, also known as Orchard Grove, in Somerset.
• At North Leigh Park in Wigan.
• At Billet Road in Redbridge, London.
• At High Road West in Haringey, London.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 17 July 2025.

Strict deadlines for landlords to fix unsafe cladding and over £1 billion allocated to make social tenants safe.

Thousands of buildings with unsafe cladding are set to be fixed faster thanks to new legislation and over £1 billion of investment in social housing remediation.

The government is today (17 July) publishing a joint plan with the social housing sector to accelerate remediation across England, as well as setting out plans for a new law as part of the second phase of the Remediation Acceleration Plan.

At the heart of the joint plan on social housing remediation is a commitment by government to invest over £1 billion to give social landlords equal access to government funding schemes as private building owners.  There is no time to waste, and today the Cladding Safety Scheme guidance has been changed so that the equal access policy can be implemented with immediate effect.

As part of this work, housing associations, local authorities and regulators are committing to accelerate work to assess and fix social housing buildings, and to improve support to social tenants before, during and after remedial works.

A new Remediation Bill is also being brought forward to make sure that landlords are held to account for fixing unsafe cladding and to tackle the slow pace of action across the sector.

The legislation – which will be brought forward as soon as parliamentary timetable allows – will require landlords of buildings 18m or more in height with unsafe cladding to complete remediation by the end of 2029, and landlords of buildings 11-18m in height to complete remediation by the end of 2031.

Those who fail to comply without reasonable excuse could face unlimited fines or imprisonment. New legislation will also give named bodies, such as Homes England and local authorities, powers to remediate buildings with unsafe cladding if the landlord fails to do so.

These reforms will help to make homes safer, reinforcing the government’s mission to restore confidence in building safety, and make sure that tragedies like the Grenfell Tower fire can never happen again. They will also help the sector to build the affordable homes that the country needs.

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner said:

“Today we have given social landlords access to over £1 billion to remediate unsafe cladding and make residents safe. The social sector is ready to rise to the challenge and make sure that residents are safe in their homes.

“We are also today sending a clear message to those responsible for a building still wrapped in unsafe cladding: act now or face the consequences. Our Remediation Bill will include a new duty on you to make your building safe by a specified date, and new powers to impose serious penalties on those who fail to comply with the duty, and ultimately to bypass them if necessary to make the building safe.”

Building Safety and Fire Minister, Alex Norris said:

“We are determined to make buildings safe and protect residents. Since publishing our Remediation Acceleration Plan, we’ve made strong progress, and this update goes further to drive accountability and remove barriers to speed up remediation.

“There is now a clear pathway to remediate every building with unsafe cladding. We expect everyone to play their part in giving residents and leaseholders the peace of mind that they deserve.”

Additional support has also been announced for leaseholders, including long-term support to help replace Waking Watch measures and shield leaseholders from costly interim safety measures.

For the first time, government funding will also be made available to support fire-safety cladding remediation works on buildings under 11 metres, in exceptional cases where no alternative viable funding route exists.

The government has also recently laid regulations for the Building Safety Levy, delivering on a key commitment from the initial Remediation Acceleration Plan.  The levy is expected to raise £3.4 billion over the next decade to help fund remediation and will come into force from October 2026.

To maintain the viability of housing delivery, the levy has exemptions for affordable housing, supported housing and for development of fewer than ten dwellings as well as a discount for previously developed land.

Through Local Remediation Acceleration Plans, Mayoral Strategic Authorities will work closely with regulators and draw on local expertise to drive progress in their areas.  These locally tailored plans will address unsafe buildings more effectively and ensure residents feel safe in their homes. The government has provided over £5 million to Metro Mayors to support them in this effort.

A new National Remediation system, now being rolled out by Homes England, will also support regulators with up-to date building safety data and help hold failing landlords to account.

Since publication of the Remediation Action Plan in December 2024, 24,000 more residents are living in homes that have been remediated.  Progress is being made, and must continue until every unsafe building is fixed.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 17 July 2025.

• Six areas receive confirmation as priority areas for English devolution
• Areas finalised will have new mayors with powers to ensure housing and transport work for their communities
• Devolution Priority Programme forms key part of government’s mission to shift power out of Whitehall and into communities as part of Plan for Change

The government’s devolution revolution has taken another step forward and all places on the Devolution Priority Programme (DPP) are now set to get their own mayors with powers over housing, transport and other vital areas, as ministers confirm each area has met key legal tests to proceed.

Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Norfolk and Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton, and Hampshire and the Solent joined the Programme in February. Subject to local councils’ agreement, they will now be able to move forward with the creation of Mayoral Strategic Authorities.

Mayor-led authorities represent a proven model for unlocking regional growth, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change and putting more money into working people’s pockets, while also empowering them to direct change in their communities.

The government has also published reports on the responses received to the public consultations that took place in each DPP area earlier this year.

Minister for Local Government and English Devolution Jim McMahon OBE MP said:

We are taking the next step in our devolution revolution, shifting power out of Whitehall and into our communities as part of our Plan for Change.

These sweeping new powers for communities will put them on the fast track to deliver growth, opportunities, transport and housing.

The six devolution priority areas are leading the way towards a new era of devolved power in England and a stronger relationship between central and local government. We stand ready to work with local leaders in realising their areas’ incredible potential.

Inaugural mayoral elections will take place in May 2026 for Norfolk and Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton, and Hampshire and the Solent.

Following a request from the local authority leaders across Cumbria and Cheshire and Warrington, the government has agreed to align inaugural mayoral elections in these two areas with the vast majority of local elections in May 2027.

The government will continue to work with affected councils over the summer, including confirming funding for new authorities, with thirty-year investment funds remaining a core part of the offer. Funding will also be standardised to increase transparency and fairness.

The news follows the introduction of the new English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill in Parliament last week. The Bill aims to de-centralise power and ignite regional growth, helping local people take back control of their regions.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 17 July 2025.

Sixteen year olds will be given the right to vote in all UK elections as part of seismic changes to modernise UK democracy.

• Modernisation of UK democracy will see 16 and 17 year olds able to vote in next general election
• Voter ID to be extended to include bank cards to help more people exercise their democratic right
• Tougher new rules to guard against foreign political interference and abuse of campaigners

Sixteen year olds will be given the right to vote in all UK elections as part of seismic changes to modernise UK democracy, delivering a key manifesto commitment and helping to restore trust in politics through our Plan for Change.

This will mean young people, who already contribute to society by working, paying taxes and serving in the military, will be given the right to vote on the issues that affect them. This will bring UK-wide elections in line with Scotland and Wales and is a major step towards meeting a manifesto commitment, ushering in the biggest change to UK democracy in a generation.

The plans, published today [17 July] in a new strategy paper, will boost democratic engagement in a changing world, and help to restore trust in UK democracy.

As part of the plans, the government is going further to make sure eligible voters are not deterred from voting, by expanding voter ID to permit the use of UK-issued bank cards as an accepted form of ID at the polling station. This is alongside harnessing more digital options to support voters and polling station staff, including allowing accepted IDs such as the Veteran Card and UK driving licence to be used at polling stations when they become available in digital format.

A new digital Voter Authority Certificate will also be created to ensure Electoral Registration Officers can meet the digital needs of voters, reduce printing costs and ensure faster delivery.

An increasingly automated voter registration system will also make it easier for people to register to vote and reduce the need to fill out their details across different government services on multiple occasions.

Major new changes will boost transparency and accountability in politics by closing loopholes that would allow foreign donors via ‘shell companies’ to influence UK political parties. Meanwhile, new requirements on unincorporated associations will mandate checks on donations over £500 to tackle foreign interference and protect UK democracy from those who attempt to undermine it.

Alongside this, the reforms will allow the Electoral Commission to take action and enforce heavier fines of up to £500,000 on those who breach political finance rules, and enable tougher sentences for those who abuse election campaigners – stabilising the foundations of UK democracy.

Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner said:

“For too long public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline.

“We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy, supporting our Plan for Change, and delivering on our manifesto commitment to give sixteen year olds the right to vote.

“We cannot take our democracy for granted, and by protecting our elections from abuse and boosting participation we will strengthen the foundations of our society for the future.”

Minister for Democracy, Rushanara Ali, said:

“We are modernising our democracy, so that it is fit for the 21st century. By delivering our manifesto commitment to extend the vote to 16 and 17 year olds, we are taking a generational step forward in restoring public trust and boosting engagement in UK democracy, supporting our Plan for Change.

“By reinforcing safeguards against foreign interference, we will strengthen our democratic institutions and protect them for future generations.”

Alongside expanding the right to vote, we are going further to restore and maintain public trust by ensuring elections are as accessible as possible for legitimate voters.

That’s why the government is making common sense changes to move towards an automated electoral registration system, stripping complexities and barriers for voters to make their lives easier. Learning from countries such as Australia and Canada, which have high rates of legitimate voter registration via automated systems, the government will bring the UK’s democracy into the 21st century.

At the same time, far too many people are being deterred from voting because of voter ID rules, with the Electoral Commission finding that 4% of non-voters at the 2024 General Election saying that a lack of voter ID was a key reason they didn’t vote, equating to around three quarters of a million people across Great Britain.

Boosting participation is crucial to restoring faith in democracy, and adding the Veteran ID card last year to the accepted forms of Voter ID was just the start of this. Through the new plans, the government is going further to allow UK-issued bank cards to be used as ID when voting, making it far easier for more voters to meet the requirements.

This change will allow us to continue to protect the integrity of the UK electoral system, while allowing greater accessibility. Bank cards, which are issued after the applicant has passed necessary security checks for a bank account, will add a widely and commonly carried item to the range of documents already accepted. Research on the ownership of bank cards shows that over 96% of the UK population has a bank account, with the majority expected to also have a bank card.

These measures will strike the right balance by continuing to protect voters from the risk of impersonation, while also removing barriers to ensure legitimate voters are not prevented or discouraged from exercising their right to vote.

Another key aspect of the reforms is ensuring UK democracy is protected and all voters, candidates, campaigners and electoral staff are safe from intimidation, harassment and abuse.

This behaviour is on the rise, particularly against women and ethnic minorities – with recent Electoral Commission research showing 55% of candidates at the 2024 General Election experienced abuse. The reforms will crack down on these unacceptable practices, delivering tougher sentences for those who intimidate campaigners and stronger protections for candidates in public life by removing the requirement for their home address to be published and openly available.

This supports ongoing work including through the Defending Democracy Taskforce, which was given a new mandate by the Prime Minister to coordinate and drive forward government’s response to the full range of threats to UK democracy.

That includes working across government with the police, parliamentary authorities, and the Electoral Commission to actively review our levers to tackle the harassment and intimidation of elected representatives, candidates, and electoral staff.

In relation to political finance, the changes being brought by the government will effectively meet an evolving and sophisticated threat of illicit money being funnelled from abroad to political parties. Tough new rules will ensure that in the future, ‘shell companies’ will not be permitted to make political donations to UK political parties.

This will end the status quo, where a new company registered today, owned by anyone, funded from anywhere, without even a single day of trade, can donate and have influence in UK politics.

The introduction of ‘Know your Donor’ checks will increase scrutiny of donations, requiring recipients to conduct enhanced checks to decrease the risk of illegitimate donations entering our system, guarding against foreign interference. This will close loopholes, reinforce our democracy and protect our citizens from those who seek to undermine and harm our society.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 11 July 2025.

Motorists protected as plans to raise standards across the private parking industry unveiled  through a new strengthened Private Parking Code of Practice .

Motorists, families, and private parking operators are set to benefit from improved standards, as a consultation on a new Private Parking Code of Practice is launched today.

Over 35 million people across the UK rely on their cars for everyday life – from commuting to caring responsibilities – but the fear of being hit with unfair parking charges has eroded trust between drivers and some operators.

The strengthened Code aims to create a fairer, more transparent private parking system that supports local economies, high streets, and businesses – delivering on commitments in the government’s Plan for Change.

To better support drivers in vulnerable or stressful situations, such as attending hospital appointments, a new rule is being considered that would uphold appeals where motorists had no reasonable choice but to breach parking terms.

Proposals will ensure fair treatment for motorists and introduce common-sense standards across the industry, including clear signage and mandatory grace periods. These measures will help prevent charges caused by issues like payment machine errors, accidental typos, or poor mobile signal.

Local Growth Minister Alex Norris said: 

From shopping on your local high street to visiting a loved one in hospital, parking is part of everyday life. But too many people are being unfairly penalised.

That’s why our Code will tackle misleading tactics and confusing processes, bringing vital oversight and transparency to raise standards across the board. This is another example of how we are fixing the things that really impact people’s day-to-day lives, as part of the Plan for Change.”

The number of parking charges issued is at a record high –12.8 million vehicle keeper requests were made last year, a 673% increase since 2012. While this partly reflects more parking spaces, the current system lacks independent oversight and sufficient transparency.

At present, operators can avoid sanctions for poor practice, leaving motorists vulnerable to unfair or incorrect charges. The new compliance framework will ensure accountability. Under proposals, operators who breach the Code may lose access to DVLA data required to issue parking charges.

The Code will strike a balance—protecting motorists while enabling compliant operators to run efficient, value-for-money car parks.

It marks another step the government is taking to repair Britain’s transport and save people time and money, following the allocation of £1.6 billion funding this year to help local authorities resurface roads and fix the equivalent of up to seven million extra potholes, with an additional £24 billion set aside to build new roads and keep drivers moving over the next five years.

The eight-week consultation also seeks views on:

• Appropriate caps for parking charges and debt recovery fees
• Improvements to second-stage appeals
• Requirements for operators to share data with government to inform future updates to the Code

The consultation is open for eight weeks and available here.