The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published two technical guidance documents to assist local planning authorities (LPAs) in preparing datasets for conservation areas and Article 4 directions. Article 4 directions are issued by LPAs to withdraw specified permitted development rights within a defined area. Conservation areas are designated locations of special architectural or historic interest, with a character or appearance that must be preserved or enhanced.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance, outlining recommended standards for presenting local plan policies maps, including how to categorise policies, select appropriate themes, and apply visual elements and symbology styles.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has issued guidance on the voluntary policy enabling in-scope contracting authorities to reserve competitions for below-threshold contracts in accordance with the Local Government (Exclusion of Non-commercial Considerations) (England) Order 2026. The policy applies to below-threshold contracts as defined in section 5(5) of the Procurement Act 2023 and allows authorities to reserve competitions to contractors based within the UK or within a defined local area, or to small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises. The guidance explains the steps authorities must take when applying reservation options, sets out the circumstances in which those options may be used on a case-by-case basis and emphasises that authorities must maintain appropriate records and comply with section 17 of the Local Government Act 1988

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance to facilitate the resolution of disputes under the Developer Remediation Contract between Participant Developers and third parties, particularly those disputes obstructing the agreement of a works contract.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance, outlining the procedures for submitting a scope determination appeal to the Secretary of State under Section 101A of the Building Act 1984. The guidance details the relevant legislation and regulatory provisions, as well as the prescribed applications permitted for appeals.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance to support home builders, local authorities and registered providers (RPs) in delivering affordable housing through section 106 agreements in England. The guidance encourages early engagement and collaboration throughout the planning and development process and covers key issues including the type and mix of affordable homes, scheme viability, design and specification, construction, handover, aftercare and maintenance. It aims to reduce delays, changes and disputes, while helping to ensure that affordable homes meet local needs and can be delivered and managed effectively. The guidance was developed by the section 106 Cross-Sector Working Group, which includes home builders, local authorities and RPs, and is endorsed by the National Housing Federation, Home Builders Federation, Local Government Association and Chartered Institute of Housing. It sits alongside wider work to improve section 106 affordable housing delivery, including standardised section 106 agreement templates and the Homes England Clearing Service.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance on the operation of the Building Safety Levy, scheduled to launch on 1 October 2026. The guidance is intended to be read alongside the draft Building Safety Levy (England) Regulations, which were laid before Parliament on 10 July 2025. It explains how the levy will be charged, collected and passed back to central government. The guidance is aimed at a wide range of stakeholders, including the housebuilding sector, local authorities, registered building control approvers and the Building Safety Regulator, to clarify their roles and obligations under the levy.

The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), following the announcement of the membership of the Building Control Independent Panel has published the Terms of Reference. The terms set out the scope of the work for the delivery of a review.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance on the use of digital community engagement platforms in planning consultations, drawing on lessons learned from government-funded pilot programmes involving local planning authorities. The guidance summarises common approaches, benefits and challenges associated with digital engagement tools, and includes links to case studies illustrating their practical application, to help councils assess when such platforms may be appropriate and what factors to consider before adopting them.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published phase one of the process evaluation for the Housing Infrastructure Fund Forward Funding (HIF‑FF) strand. This report examines the bidding, assessment and award process from the perspectives of both local authorities and UK government, covering the period from the first expression of interest through to contract award.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published an impact assessment (IA) for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, evaluating the impact of the Bill’s proposed measures on businesses and wider society. The IA is accompanied by 14 detailed annexes that examine various aspects of the Bill, including reforms to nationally significant infrastructure projects, electricity network connections, and the offshore transmission owner regime, among others. The IA, which received a green rating from the Regulatory Policy Committee, projects that over the next ten years, the Bill could boost the economy by between £1.3bn and £7.5bn, with a central estimate of £3.2bn. However, it excludes recent amendments tabled at the Committee Stage to overhaul the pre-application stage for critical infrastructure, which are expected to boost the economy by an additional £1bn.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published an impact assessment for the Renters’ Rights Bill, evaluating the impact of its proposed measures on businesses and broader society. Key reforms include abolishing section 21 'no fault' evictions, introducing a new Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database and Ombudsman, and extending the Decent Homes Standard and Awaab’s Law to the PRS. The assessment estimates an average discounted annual cost of £22 per rented property for landlords, representing 0.2% of the mean annual rents in England. However, these costs are expected to be offset by benefits such as reduced letting agent fees and shorter void periods. Tenants are expected to benefit by £28 per household annually due to increased security of tenure. Non-monetised benefits include improved health, longer-term tenancies, and higher housing quality for tenants, as well as enhanced enforcement powers for local councils. The assessment also acknowledges that some landlords may exit the sector due to increased costs, but indicates that the overall impact will be limited, with the possibility of more professional landlords entering the sector.