On 12 February 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) published a consultation paper seeking views on the proposed sub-regional areas over which spatial development strategies (SDSs) should be prepared in England. The aim is to confirm ‘sensible’ SDS geographies (largely aligned with devolution footprints where possible) so that prospective strategic planning authorities can start preparatory work ahead of the commencement of the SDS regime. Also on 12 February 2026, the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook MP, published a written ministerial statement on Sub-Regional Strategic Planning. The statement stated that 'the consultation identifies a number of groupings where we understand that there is a degree of broad agreement about the principle of working together, and in these areas we propose an SDS geography'.

The government has launched a consultation seeking views on its plans, through Part 11 of the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA 2023), to provide greater transparency on ‘contractual control agreements’ in England and Wales. The government confirms that when it refers to contractual controls, it is referring to ‘agreements, such as option agreements, that are used to control land short of outright ownership’. The government confirms that the regulations which it plans to deliver under LURA 2003, seek to create a dataset comprising the ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘who’ and ‘when’ of contractual control agreements that will promote transparency by providing a reliable and accessible source of information for communities, developers, and other stakeholders.

Environment analysis: On 30 October 2024, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issued a consultation on ‘Tackling the hidden economy: expanding tax conditionality to new sectors’. The consultation runs to 21 January 2025. Angus Evers, partner at Shoosmiths, comments on the consultation.

A consultation has been issued by the Family Procedure Rule Committee (FPRC) on a new draft Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR 2010), SI 2010/2955, 25.5A together with changes to FPR 2010, SI 2010/2955, 25.2 and Practice Directions FPR 2010, PD 25B and FPR 2010, PD 25C. The aim of the FPRC is that the new FPR 2010, SI 2010/2955, 25.5A will require any expert instructed in family law children proceedings to be regulated, subject to some exceptions, with the definition of a regulated expert included in the amendments to FPR 2010, SI 2010/2955, 25.2.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the draft implementing regulation for joint scientific consultations on medicinal products for human use, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/2282 (the Health Technology Assessment Regulation). This draft implementing act focuses on procedural rules for the joint scientific consultations, and covers the submission of requests from health technology developers, the selection and consultation of stakeholder organisations and patients, clinical and other relevant experts, and co-operation with the European Medicines Agency. The consultation closes on 29 October 2024.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has launched a consultation series on generative artificial intelligence (AI) and is inviting stakeholders to help inform the ICO’s position on questions relating to the purpose limitation principle in the context of the development and deployment of generative AI and the expectations around complying with the accuracy principle and data subject rights etc. The first chapter of the consultation series covers the lawful basis for training generative AI models on web-scraped data and is open to responses until 1 March 2024.

Planning analysis: The government has published a consultation on wide-ranging reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), accompanied by a full draft revised NPPF setting out proposed changes to housing delivery, Green Belt policy, affordable housing and the plan-making system. The package signals a return to mandatory housing targets, a more permissive approach to ‘grey belt’ land release and strengthened expectations around affordable provision, with significant implications for local planning authorities and developers.

Planning analysis: The government has published a consultation on wide-ranging reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), accompanied by a full draft revised NPPF setting out proposed changes to housing delivery, Green Belt policy, affordable housing and the plan-making system. The package signals a return to mandatory housing targets, a more permissive approach to ‘grey belt’ land release and strengthened expectations around affordable provision, with significant implications for local planning authorities and developers.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has opened a consultation on the government’s plan to introduce the new ‘not for EU’ labelling requirements on agrifood products across England, Scotland and Wales. The plan will ensure no incentive arises for businesses to avoid placing goods on the Northern Ireland market. Stakeholders are now invited to share their views on the implementation of this rule. The deadline for responses is 15 March 2024.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a consultation proposing significant reforms to regulate private prosecutions in England and Wales with the aim of ensuring all prosecutions are fair and in the public interest. The consultation, prompted by systemic failures including the Post Office Horizon scandal, has seven key proposals including a mandatory code of practice, an inspection regime, prosecutorial accreditation, HMCTS registration requirements, mandatory data publication, enhanced defendant engagement in the single justice procedure and stricter consideration of mitigating circumstances. By improving the transparency of private prosecutions, the government hopes this will enhanced public confidence in the criminal justice system. These measures will apply to all private and non-criminal justice agency prosecutors, including state-run agencies. The consultation closes on 8 May 2025.

Environment analysis: The UK governments are consulting on plans to include emissions from the maritime sector in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme. The scheme was launched in 2021 and is a key component of the UK’s net zero ambitions. It aims to decarbonise aviation, electricity and industry by limiting emissions and introducing trading permits, creating a carbon price that encourages emissions reductions. Paul Collins, senior associate at Ashfords LLP, provides his analysis in this republished article.

Planning analysis: The government has published a consultation on reforming the statutory consultee system in England. It proposes reducing the number of statutory consultees, raising or refining consultation thresholds for key national bodies, expanding the use of standing advice and introducing a new performance framework and potential funding surcharge. The aim is to make consultee engagement more proportionate, timely and focussed on enabling sustainable development while maintaining appropriate safeguards.