The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced proposals for seven new towns and launched a consultation on their delivery. The proposed locations, across Bedfordshire, Enfield, West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Greenwich, South Gloucestershire and Buckinghamshire, are each expected to deliver at least 10,000 homes, with several delivering up to 40,000. The developments are intended to be comprehensively planned communities, integrating housing, employment, transport, schools and green space from the outset, with a focus on connectivity, reduced car dependency and supporting economic growth. Development corporations may be established to support delivery, and a cross-government approach will coordinate infrastructure provision.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published the 2024 and 2025 Housing Delivery Test (HDT) measurements for relevant plan-making authorities in England, including non-metropolitan districts, metropolitan boroughs, London boroughs and development corporations with plan-making and decision-making powers. The 2025 measurement assesses housing delivery over financial years 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25, while the 2024 measurement covers 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24. MHCLG published both measurements together following a delayed timetable resulting from planning reforms and associated consultations, to help re-establish a regular HDT publication cycle and bring the test up to date.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has added the Pride in Place Impact Fund guidance page to the Pride in Place collection of guidance documents, along with the new grant determinations for the 2025–26 financial year.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published Building Circular 01/2026 announcing The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026, S1 2026/335. These regulations implement the Future Homes and Buildings Standards. The Amendment Regulations were laid on 24 March 2026 and will come into force on 24 March 2027, except for Regulations 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9. These specific provisions for higher-risk building work will commence on 24 September 2027. The UK Green Building Council has welcomed the government's decision to adopt the Future Homes Standard, which requires new homes to move away from fossil fuels and mandates rooftop solar and improved energy efficiency levels.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published Circular 01/2025, along with an accompanying letter, announcing the withdrawal and replacement of Approved Document B (Fire Safety) Volumes 1 and 2: 2019 edition incorporating 2020 and 2022 amendments collated with 2025, 2026, and 2029 amendments. The circular details where changes have been made to correct typographical errors. MHCLG has confirmed that these corrections do not alter the underlying policy intent, implementation schedule, or transitional provisions. These changes took effect on 2 March 2025.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published the Commissioner’s seventh report on Slough Borough Council, Following the extension of the intervention in November 2024. The report concludes that earlier progress has not been sustained and that ongoing in-year budget pressures continue to restrict the Council’s strategic focus and delivery of its transformation plans. Concurrently, MHCLG has appointed Dame Mary Ney as Lead Reviewer and Will Godfrey as Supporting Reviewer to conduct an external review of the Council. The review will assess progress under the intervention, identify measures to accelerate improvement and consider the Council’s long-term future. MHCLG has also published the terms of reference for the external review.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Governmengt (MHCLG) has published the Commissioners’ third report on the intervention at Birmingham City Council, alongside the ministerial response. The report records progress of the intervention at the Birmingham City Council, since January 2025,  reporting progress in in key service areas, the establishment of a Corporate Plan and a framework agreement on Equal Pay, but highlights ongoing significant risks including the waste dispute which delayed progress, financial libility risks from the Equal Pay framework, slow cultural and governance reform, and the need for a stronger corporate approach to transformation. Commissioners intend to produce an Exit Plan by January 2026 to set out the improvements required before the intervention ends in October 2028. The ministerial response welcomes recent progress but stresses the need to strengthen governance and leadership behaviours, deliver budgeted savings, stabilise finances, resolve equal pay liabilities and maintain momentum ahead of major milestones in 2026. Commissioners are expected to submit their next report, including an exit strategy, by May 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published the Construction Products Reform White Paper in response to the consultation on the Construction Products Reform Green Paper that ran from 26 February 2025 to 21 May 2025. The Green Paper consultation sought views on proposals to reform the construction products regulatory regime following the Grenfell Tower tragedy and subsequent independent reviews that identified systemic failures in testing, certification, oversight and enforcement. The Green Paper's published summary of responses outlines key themes and provides data on respondents, confirming broad support for strengthening regulatory coverage, improving transparency and product information, enhancing oversight of conformity assessment bodies, and increasing enforcement powers. Consequently, the newly-published White Paper sets out the government’s proposed reforms, including extending regulatory coverage to all construction products and introducing a general safety requirement. It opens a further consultation, which will close at 11.59 pm on 20 May 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance for billing authorities on administering the Electric Vehicle Charging Point (EVCP) business rates relief scheme, announced at the Budget on 26 November 2025. Eligible, separately assessed EVCP hereditaments classified under Special Category code 718 by the Valuation Office will receive 100% relief on their business rates bills for financial years 2026–27 to 2035–36, backdated to 1 April 2023, at an estimated cost of £500 million over 10 years. Relief is granted under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (LGFA 1988), with billing and major precepting authorities reimbursed via grants under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003 (LGA 2003). EVCP relief awards are likely to constitute subsidies under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 (SCA 2022). Following a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) referral submitted on 6 May 2026, the CMA's Subsidy Advice Unit published its assessment on 17 June 2026. Awards complying with the guidance are deemed consistent with subsidy control principles, with no cap on individual award values, and do not constitute nor contribute to Minimum Financial Assistance. Individual awards exceeding £100,000 are subject to transparency reporting requirements via the Manage UK Subsidies Portal.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published the English Devolution White Paper, titled ‘Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth’, outlining the government's strategy to ‘widen and deepen’ devolution across England. Key proposals include universal coverage of Strategic Authorities; a new statutory Devolution Framework defining roles and responsibilities at different tiers; Integrated Settlements for established mayoral authorities; and enhanced development management powers for mayors over areas like housing, planning, transport and skills. Such powers will include the ability to call in planning applications of strategic importance, and the creation of a 'Mayoral Levy' charge to ensure that new developments have the necessary associated infrastructure. The policy paper also outlines plans for local government reorganisation and reforms to funding and accountability. Forming part of the government’s ‘Plan for Change’, this sets the direction of travel for a shift towards greater devolution of power from Westminster to local and regional authorities in England.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published frequently asked questions (FAQs) on Approved Document L: energy and greenhouse gas emissions (2026 edition), which applies in England. The FAQs clarifies the interaction between application requirements L2 and the new requirement L3, calculation of photovoltaic (PV) panel efficiency, the meaning of ‘curtilage’ and the ‘reasonably practicable roof area’. The FAQs also clarify the treatment of north-facing and heavily overshaded roof surfaces and detached garages in the relevant calculations.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published the fourth progress report on implementing the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 recommendations, covering progress up to May 2026 and updates on Phase 1 recommendations relating to Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs). Of the 61 recommendations, 40 are in progress and 21 are complete, covering the construction industry, fire and rescue services, response and recovery, and vulnerable people. Since the Annual Report published in February 2026, a further nine recommendations have been completed.