The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published guidance on pavement licensing introduced in the Business and Planning Act 2020. The permanent pavement licences process keeps the streamlined consent route for businesses to acquire a licence to put removable furniture, including tables and chairs outside of bars, cafes and restaurants quickly. Local authorities can charge up to £500 for first-time applications and £350 for renewals, and licences may be granted for up to two years.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published letters from the Secretary of State for Levelling up, Housing and Communities to Peabody Housing Association, Sovereign Housing Association, A2 Dominion and Wandle Housing Association following severe maladministration findings by the Housing Ombudsman for all four of the housing providers. In the letters the Secretary of State, Michael Gove, has outlined the issues faced by residents in each of the findings and has highlighted that the standard of services provided by the housing associations is ‘unacceptable’. Gove has also said that he will be ‘taking a personal interest in the changes’ the associations make following their severe maladministration findings.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published two letters from the Minister for Local Government, Simon Hoare MP, to leaders of unitary and upper tier authorities in England and to the Chair of the Local Government Association (LGA). The letter draws attention to the eligibility of local councillors for criminal record checks and adopting best practice enhanced criminal record checks. This stems from Simon Bailey’s Independent Review of the Disclosure and Barring Regime.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published an update on the progress made to implement the build out measures introduced by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA 2023). The DLUHC has confirmed that, under LURA 2023 ss 111 and 255, the Secretary of State has been given powers to make regulations in relation to completion notices, powers to decline to determine applications, development progress reports and development commencement notice provisions. The DLUHC notes that prior to the commencement of any regulations, a public consultation will be held to seek views on the practical implementation of them.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published for the first time a register of decisions on housing, planning and regeneration compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) in England, which were submitted for confirmation to the Secretary of State with responsibility for housing and planning. The register was published in March 2024, and provides CPO decisions from 2019 onwards.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published its response to the consultation on permitted development rights to support recreational camping, renewable energy and film making. Following a review of the responses, changes permitting development rights supporting temporary recreational campsites, local authority led developments and temporary film making were introduced.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published a template application pack and conveyancer pack for local authorities to use for sales of new build properties under the First Homes scheme.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published an update to the notice of approval of the methodologies for expressing the energy performance of buildings in England and Wales. The notice of approval sets out the approved national calculation methodologies for calculating energy performance. The update provides clarification on the devolved aspects of approving the methodology, and does not affect the calculation methodology. The update comes into effect on 17 May 2024, replacing the notice of approval published in June 2022.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published updated planning practice guidance (PPG) on housing supply and delivery. The updated PPG hopes to accurately reflect the planning policy changes set out in the recently updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published updates to parts of the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) to reflect the enforcement reforms introduced through the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 which came into effect on 25 April 2024. The parts of the PPG that have been updated include those dealing with appeals, enforcement and post-permission matters, and enforcement of the responsible actors scheme.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published the final consultation response 'Amendments to Approved Document B: Sprinklers in care homes, and the removal of national classes' on the consultation page for the consultation on sprinklers in care homes, removal of national classes, and staircases in residential buildings.

DLUHC (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) has published its response to the OEP (Office for Environmental Protection) review into the implementation of environmental assessment regimes in England, pursuant to section 29(2) of the Environment Act 2021. The response addresses a series of recommendations on data accessibility, post-decision reporting, and access to expertise. The response emphasises the new environmental assessment framework which intends to simplify and streamline these processes.