The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in collaboration with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) have announced the innovation of an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to digitise council planning records. The system (currently in testing) converts paper and PDF planning documents into machine-readable data within 40 seconds—compared to the typical one or two hours required manually. The tool aims to support the government's target of building 1.5m homes during the next Parliament by enabling faster planning decisions. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimates that related planning reforms, including updates to the National Planning Policy Framework, will boost the economy by £6.8bn.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have opened a joint consultation seeking views on the implementation of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023. The consultation proposes introducing a locally led licensing regime for supported housing across England, alongside new national supported housing standards for support provision. It will last for 12 weeks, closing on 15 May 2025 at 11.59 pm.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Transport (DfT) have tabled amendments to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to shift more power to local leaders and communities. The measures include new powers to protect local spaces, shape high streets, and celebrate culture. They also seek to make streets safer by enabling enforcement against dangerous pavement parking outside London and by strengthening taxi and private hire vehicle licensing standards. The amendments extend the Community Right to Buy listing period from five to ten years and allow action against the concentration of gambling premises. They also introduce Local Scrutiny Committees to increase the accountability of regional mayors. Mayors will gain powers over arts, heritage, and the creative industries, and will be able to appoint commissioners. The package includes £150 million to support high streets and extends the Pride in Place programme to 284 neighbourhoods. These measures build on the Road Safety Strategy published in January 2026 and are intended to improve accessibility for wheelchair users, people with visual impairments and parents with pushchairs.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and  Home Office have announced that the Vagrancy Act 1824 will be repealed by Spring 2026, decriminalising rough sleeping in England and Wales. The reform includes new targeted offences under the Crime and Policing Bill to address organised begging and criminal trespassing. This decision reflects modern attitudes towards homelessness and aims to address its root causes through increased financial support and strategic measures. The Act, originally introduced to manage homelessness following the Napoleonic Wars and Industrial Revolution, has been deemed outdated and unjust. MHCLG has allocated £233m in additional funding for homelessness services, bringing total investment for 2025–26 to £1bn. The government will publish a new cross-departmental homelessness strategy later in 2025, developed in collaboration with mayors and councils.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and Mayor of London have published a joint policy statement outlining measures to accelerate housebuilding in London. The package includes temporary Community Infrastructure Levy relief of 50% for qualifying schemes with at least 20% affordable housing until 31 December 2028, amendments to London Plan density guidance, a new time-limited planning route avoiding viability assessments for schemes with 20% affordable housing until 31 March 2028, extended Mayoral call-in powers for housing schemes and a £322m City Hall Developer Investment Fund from 2026-27.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have launched a joint call for evidence on the role and impact of claims-management activity in housing disrepair claims, seeking views to evaluate how such activity influences the claims process and to determine whether the system of redress remains fair and effective. Tenants, landlords, legal professionals and claims-management companies are invited to share their experiences of disrepair claims, how the current process operates, and which areas may be unclear or not working as intended. Responses are sought by 12 February 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced that the first phase of Awaab's Law came into force on 27 October 2025, establishing new legal duties for social landlords across England's four million social rented homes. Under the legislation, social landlords must fix emergency health and safety hazards within 24 hours of reporting and investigate damp and mould within 10 working days, making properties safe within five working days. Landlords must provide written findings to tenants within three working days of inspection and consider tenant circumstances including young children and those with disabilities or health conditions. Alternative accommodation must be offered if homes cannot be made safe within required timeframes. Non-compliance may result in court action, enforcement orders, compensation payments and legal costs. The government has also launched a £1m fund for tenant engagement initiatives, with grants up to £100,000 available for proposals improving landlord-tenant communication. Additional phases will extend protections to further hazards in 2026 and 2027, while new electrical safety regulations for social landlords will commence on 1 November 2025.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced a package of reforms to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), aimed at accelerating housebuilding and remediation work. Key changes include: (1) the introduction of a new Fast Track Process, designed to integrate building inspector and engineer capacity into the BSR to expedite the processing and review of existing newbuild cases and remediation decisions; (2) leadership changes, with Andy Roe KFSM appointed as non-executive chair of a new MHCLG shadow board, which will oversee the transition of the BSR’s functions from the Health and Safety Executive, as part of initial steps towards establishing a single construction regulator, and Charlie Pugsley named as the new Chief Executive Officer of the BSR; and (3) further investment, with the recruitment of over 100 new staff to enhance the BSR’s operational capacity.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced the Deputy Prime Minister's decision to proceed with the careful demolition of Grenfell Tower following consultation with bereaved families, survivors and local residents in its Grenfell Tower April 2025 update. The announcement comes as annual maintenance work continues, including the replacement of the tower's protective outer wrapping which began in March 2025 and is expected to take ten weeks. Site preparation work for the eighth anniversary of the tragedy includes area resurfacing and contractor facility adjustments.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced the implementation of High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs), effective from 2 December 2024. This new legal power, introduced by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, empowers local councils and authorities to auction leases for commercial properties that have been left vacant for over 365 days within a 24-month period. The government has committed £1m to support the auction process, which aims to revitalise high streets by offering businesses and community groups a 'right to rent' vacant town-centre commercial properties. The HSRAs are part of the government’s broader strategy to support local businesses, with a new Small Business Strategy expected to be published in 2025, outlining further support for small and medium-sized enterprises, including improved access to finance and domestic and overseas markets.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced the introduction of a Neighbourhood Guarantee establishing minimum standards for public services including the need for cleaner streets, filled potholes and vital public services. Local leaders will work with central government to meet these standards and deliver tangible change. The measures include Community Power Pilots launching in up to 25 areas where councils, community groups and residents will co-design local services. The government has legislated to introduce and enforce profit caps on private companies providing public services, with specific focus on children’s new social care providers. Councils will receive new powers to restrict certain retail premises on high streets, take over empty shops and uses spaces for alternative purposes. Mayors will be granted decision-making powers over Transport and Works Act Orders within their areas to facilitate public transport development. The government is progressing a review of Right to Manage processes for social housing residents and will implement Law Commission recommendations on leasehold right to manage within this parliament. This initiative builds on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 and supports the £5.8 billion Pride in Place programme.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced that the New Homes Accelerator programme has helped unlock and accelerate the delivery of nearly 100,000 homes across England since its launch in August 2024. The initiative targets large developments stalled in the planning system by providing expert support to remove regulatory and planning blockages. Six new priority sites—Comeytrowe (Somerset), Wisley Airfield (Guildford), North Leigh Park (Wigan), Hampden Fields (Aylesbury) and two London sites (Billet Road and High Road West)—are expected to deliver a further 12,000 homes with at least 25% affordable housing. The programme supports the government’s Plan for Change commitment to build 1.5 million homes and stimulate economic growth with benefits for working families and young people seeking homes to buy or rent.