The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on the proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The MHCLG is also seeking views on a series of wider policy proposals in relation to local plan intervention criteria, increasing planning fees, and appropriate thresholds for certain Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. The consultation closes on 24 September 2024.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on proposed reforms to the Decent Homes Standard (DHS), proposing to extend its scope to include privately rented homes. The consultation aims to establish clear minimum housing standards that tenants can expect from landlords across both the social and private rented sectors. The consultation closes on 10 September 2025. MHCLG has also published the response to its 2022 consultation on the introduction and enforcement of a DHS in the private rented sector (PRS).

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on proposals to reform the home buying and selling process, aiming to address longstanding issues with the current system. Subject to the consultation outcome, MHCLG intends to publish a roadmap in winter 2025–26, setting out how the reforms will be implemented during this parliament. The proposed reforms are expected to reduce transaction fall-through rates from one in three to one in seven, potentially saving consumers around £255m annually and first-time buyers approximately £710 per transaction. Alongside this, MHCLG has launched a consultation on guidance to help estate agents meet their legal obligation to provide material information to potential buyers during residential property transactions, and to determine what constitutes material information for buyers. Both consultations close on 29 December 2025.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on proposed reforms to planning committees. The consultation seeks views on three key proposals: (1) establishing a national scheme of delegation; (2) controlling the size and composition of planning committees; and (3) introducing mandatory training for committee members. It follows MHCLG’s December 2024 working paper on modernising planning committees. The consultation closes on 23 July 2025.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched  a consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system in England to improve efficiency, timeliness, and proportionality in planning decisions. The government proposes removing statutory consultee status from Sport England, The Gardens Trust and Theatres Trust, introducing mitigations such as notification requirements and reliance on policy guidance to ensure continued engagement where necessary. Alongside these removals, the consultation seeks views on redefining consultation under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, reducing unnecessary referrals, and strengthening performance oversight to support economic growth through a faster and more consistent planning system.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation seeking views on a new Direction to the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) in relation to social housing rent policy from 1 April 2026 that includes social rent convergence. This follows MHCLG's consultation on future social housing rent policy published in 2024. The proposed Direction would require the RSH to set a regulatory standard on rents that will apply to registered providers of social housing, including private registered providers (such as housing associations) and local authority registered providers (local authorities with retained housing stock). The Direction is issued under section 197 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (HRA 2008), which gives the Secretary of State the power to direct the RSH to set and define the content of rent standards. Once issued, the Direction is binding. The proposed Direction has been published alongside the consultation, with responses sought by 27 August 2025.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced the launch of consultations in six areas across England. This initiative is part of the Devolution Priority Programme (the Programme), aimed at establishing mayoral combined authorities or mayoral combined county authorities to enhance local governance. The consultations seek input from local residents, businesses, and public sector bodies on the proposed geographies and operational frameworks of these new authorities. The areas involved in this programme are Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Norfolk and Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton, and Hampshire and the Solent. The Programme is a significant step towards this goal, with the potential for these areas to hold mayoral elections by May 2026. Responses are sought by 13 April 2025.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched consultations on potential modifications to the two unitary proposals for the reorganisation of local government in East Sussex and Brighton and Hove and West Sussex. Responses will inform the Secretary of State’s decision on which proposal to implement. The Minister for Local Government and Homelessness has also written to council leaders in the affected areas setting out further details of the consultation process. The consultations close on 15 June 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched statutory consultations on proposals for local government reorganisation across 14 areas, following the receipt of 52 submissions from local councils. The Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, Alison McGovern, has confirmed the launch of the consultations in a written ministerial statement to Parliament, saying the government is continuing its programme to reform local government structures in England. The consultations will close on 26 March 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a new building safety newsletter, starting during Q1 2026. The quarterly newsletter will provide updates on legislation, regulatory developments, building remediation progress, resident-focused activity and relevant guidance. Subscriptions to the newsletter are available via MHCLG’s online platform.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced the launch of statutory consultations on proposals for unitary local government in six areas, following a written ministerial statement to Parliament on 19 November 2025. The consultations cover East Sussex and Brighton and Hove, West Sussex, Essex with Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock, Hampshire with Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton, and Norfolk and Suffolk. This follows the government's decision on 28 October 2025 to implement two unitary councils in Surrey. The consultations represent the latest phase in the government's programme to end the two-tier local government system affecting approximately 20 million people across England. Final proposals for local government reorganisation in these areas were submitted by councils on 26 September 2025. The government has allocated £7.6m in Local Government Reorganisation Proposal Development Contributions across 21 invited areas to support the transition from the current system where services are split between county and district councils to new single-tier unitary councils.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a technical consultation on proposed regulations to modernise the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in England and Wales. The consultation seeks views on two draft statutory instruments (SIs) intended to implement policy proposals outlined in the government’s earlier Fit for the Future consultation. It closes on 2 January 2026.