Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

I refer the noble Baroness to the answer given to Question UIN HL3045 on 15 September 2026.

The government has made no such assessment but is considering what can be done to improve the customer experience for all shared owners, including those who purchase via the Home Ownership for People with Long Term Disabilities (HOLD) scheme.

Some upfront costs associated with purchasing a HOLD property are typically lower than for open market purchases. For example, the deposit is only set in relation to the initial share being purchased, not the full open market value of the property. Rent on the unpurchased share is also set below market level.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that development proposals should be appropriate for their location, taking into account the likely effects (including cumulative effects) of pollution on health, living conditions and the natural environment, whether these effects are on or off-site. Proposals should not give rise to, or contribute to, unacceptable levels of noise, water, or other forms of pollution on or beyond the site. Development proposals should also consider the environmental qualities of land proposed for development, including landscape character and the natural beauty of the countryside, and identify opportunities for those qualities to be conserved or enhanced.

Furthermore, the NPPF is also clear that development proposals should anticipate and address possible malicious threats and other hazards (whether natural or man-made) in relation to uses which could pose a potential hazard to the surrounding area. Planning Practice Guidance also encourages developers and local planning authorities to engage with their local Fire and Rescue Services early on to identify potential mitigations in the event of an incident, and have these views taken into account during determination of the application.

Similarly, data centres that are consented via the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime will be bound by the relevant national planning policy and environmental protections. The Government is preparing a new National Policy Statement for data centres which, once designated, will set out the relevant national policy framework for decision-making on data centre projects that proceed through the regime.

The application of these various policies will be case-specific, and it is for decision-makers to assess in the first instance what impact an AI data centre or battery storage facility may have.

The impacts of the overnight visitor levy will be determined by local decisions. It will be for Mayors and local leaders to decide whether to introduce a levy, subject to local consultation on specific proposals. We expect local leaders to engage constructively with businesses and communities, and to publish an assessment of the impact of their proposals.

The Government provided a total of £7.6m in 25/26 to support the 21 areas undergoing local government reorganisation to develop proposals.

The Government also paid out £1.8m in August 2026 to Surrey, with new councils taking on responsibilities from April 2027. This was part of the committed £63 million capacity funding to councils undergoing reorganisation.

As part of the Review announced on 7 September, the Government will consider the approach to costs and funding given that areas will have committed some resources to reorganisation.

The Government has been clear that donors contributing above the £100,000 annual cap should demonstrate a genuine and ongoing connection to the United Kingdom.

We are therefore considering ways to strengthen the residency requirements so that the policy achieves its intended effect and cannot be readily circumvented.

The Department does not routinely publish correspondence between Ministers and Members of Parliament. The reasons for the local government reorganisation decision in Essex were set out in the then Secretary of State’s decision letter to local council leaders of 25 March 2026, available here.

On 7 September 2026, the Government announced that it had withdrawn this decision and the proposals for Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock will now be considered alongside the wider local government reorganisation programme.

As the Secretary of State has set out publicly, the Secretary of State has settled this matter with HMRC, who consider this matter closed. No fine or penalty were due. HMRC concluded there was no tax avoidance.

The Government recognises that local leaders are best placed to understand and respond to the specific characteristics of their area. As such, Local Growth Plans are locally owned, allowing strategic authorities to determine how to use devolved funding and powers to support growth in a way that reflects local challenges and opportunities, and this is reflected in our supporting guidance.

Spatial Development Strategies must contain policies addressing issues of strategic importance across the whole of the strategic planning authority’s area, and they must have regard to the need to be consistent with national policies, which is tested by an independent examiner prior to adoption. The new National Planning Policy Framework includes a number of policies to support rural communities, including by setting out support for rural businesses and services, and setting expectations that development plans allocate sites for housing that will support and enhance the vitality of rural communities and enable villages to grow and thrive.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 enables mayors to appoint commissioners to support delivery within areas of competence set out in the Act. These appointments are discretionary and mayors are not required to appoint commissioners in relation to any specific issue or geography.

The Act includes rural affairs and coastal communities as an area of competence. Where a mayor considers it appropriate, they may appoint a commissioner whose work relates to that area and provide them with a locally appropriate brief reflecting the needs and priorities of their communities. The Government has no plans to require the appointment of commissioners in authorities that meet a specified rural population threshold.

Our ambition is that every area in England has, or is in the process of establishing, a Strategic Authority by the end of 2027, with Strategic Authorities in place everywhere by the end of 2028. The Government recently wrote to all areas without a Strategic Authority seeking confirmation of their devolution ambitions, including their preferences regarding mayoral or non-mayoral devolution.

Where an area favours a non-mayoral Foundation Strategic Authority, and for existing Foundation Strategic Authorities, we will work with them on potential future mayoral devolution. The Government will not impose mayors on areas that do not want one, but we do consider that directly accountable mayors represent the strongest form of governance available, and so the suite of powers available to areas with mayors will be commensurately greater. However, we will consider what powers should sit at the Foundation Strategic Authority level, and recently government confirmed that Foundation Strategic Authorities will be able to raise an Overnight Visitor Levy in their area.

The Government has withdrawn the March 2026 decisions for Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, and paused activity in the other 14 areas, including Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, while a full review of the local government reorganisation programme is undertaken. We recognise the need for clarity and will set out next steps as soon as possible.

A summary of the representations received was published here. The Government currently has no plans to publish the individual representations received.

The Government recognised the Cornish as a national minority under the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in 2014, recognising this unique culture and heritage. This status does not prevent it from accessing devolution and Government would ensure that this status would be preserved in any future devolution arrangement.

The Government’s ambition is that every area in England has, or is in the process of establishing, a Strategic Authority by the end of 2027, with Strategic Authorities in place everywhere by the end of 2028. The Government recently wrote to all areas without a Strategic Authority seeking confirmation of their devolution ambitions, including their preferences regarding mayoral or non-mayoral devolution. Cornwall Council has set out their preference and we will be confirming next steps to areas soon.

My Department has made no specific estimate of the number and the overall proportion of letting and property agents who have not signed up to a Client Money Protection (CMP) scheme.

It is the duty of every local authority in England to enforce the requirement for letting agents and property managers who hold client money to belong to a government-approved CMP scheme. The lead enforcement authority is the National Trading Standards Letting Agency Team (NTSLAT) operated by Bristol City Council. In instances where NTSLAT is made aware of an agent potentially operating without the required CMP scheme membership, cases are referred to the relevant local authority for further investigation. More information on NTSLAT’s activity in this area is available here.

The Government remains committed to supporting democratic participation and established the Democratic Engagement Fund with a budget of up to £2.5 million to support civil society organisations in delivering democratic engagement activity across England.

The Fund operates as a competitive grant scheme, with applications closing on 31 August 2026. Assessment of applications is currently underway.

Applications are currently being assessed against the published criteria, and funding decisions are expected to be announced in January 2027. There are currently no plans to reopen the Fund for further applications.

The Government's policy is to publish Impact Assessments as soon as practicable to support effective parliamentary scrutiny and transparency. On 3 September, we introduced the Representation of the People Bill in the House of Lords, which was accompanied by an updated Impact Assessment.

Any necessary updates to the Bill's accompanying Impact Assessment will be made in the usual way.

The department has not made a specific national assessment of the impact of traffic levels on children's opportunities for outdoor play but recognises the importance of ensuring children have access to safe and welcoming local places to play. Through the £18 million Playground Fund, the Government is supporting local authorities to improve access to high-quality playgrounds in areas of greatest need.

The Government’s Pride in Place Programme will also provide up to £5.8 billion over ten years to support 284 neighbourhoods identified as most in need. Each neighbourhood under the programme will be given up to £20m of flexible funding and support. In each place, the local neighbourhood board will work with the community to decide how this funding is spent, which could include investment in local regeneration projects such as parks and playgrounds where these reflect local priorities.

The department has not made a specific national assessment of the impact of traffic levels on children's opportunities for outdoor play but recognises the importance of ensuring children have access to safe and welcoming local places to play. Through the £18 million Playground Fund, the Government is supporting local authorities to improve access to high-quality playgrounds in areas of greatest need.

The Government’s Pride in Place Programme will also provide up to £5.8 billion over ten years to support 284 neighbourhoods identified as most in need. Each neighbourhood under the programme will be given up to £20m of flexible funding and support. In each place, the local neighbourhood board will work with the community to decide how this funding is spent, which could include investment in local regeneration projects such as parks and playgrounds where these reflect local priorities.

The Government's immediate priority is to deliver the electoral reforms already before Parliament. The Prime Minister remains committed to electoral reform as a way of supporting a politics that works for all people in all places and is open to different ways of having a debate about how we can better include everyone’s vote and voice.

We are legislating in the Representation of the People Bill so that companies that wish to make political donations will need to meet new eligibility criteria showing they have made sufficient profit to fund their donations; and that they are majority owned or controlled by UK electors or citizens.

There are many legitimate non-profit organisations that are established as companies. These companies may still be eligible to make donations provided they can provide evidence of income equivalent to profit, in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

Details of ministerial meetings are published on gov.uk on a quarterly basis. The Secretary of State has not exchanged ministerial correspondence with Propertymark, not has she met with Propertymark since her reappointment.

The complaint concerned a longstanding individual case involving historic legal costs and a Charging Order. The Department followed the Ombudsman’s recommendation for a financial remedy.

The referenced Protecting What Matters commitment is being led by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). DCMS is investing £400 million in new and upgraded grassroots sports facilities through to 2030.

In 2026/27, this includes the following commitments:

• £85 million will be invested through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme to build and upgrade pitches and facilities UK-wide, funding projects such as artificial grass pitches, changing rooms, and floodlights. This funding is designed to benefit the areas most in need, with 50% of investment going to the 30% most deprived areas in the UK. At least 40% of funded projects have a multi-sport offer, and the programme also aims to increase access and participation levels for under-represented groups, including women and girls, across the UK.
• The UK Government and NBA will invest £5 million each into basketball and basketball-led multi-sport facilities in England.
• At least £2.5 million will be invested via the Lawn Tennis Association into covered courts in England for tennis, padel and other activities, and additional funding to enable a wider range of sporting bodies to trial innovative funding pathways.
• £3 million will be invested via the England and Wales Cricket Board to build covered, all-weather multi-sport domes in Birmingham, Bolton, Derby, Newcastle, and Nottingham.

Additionally, DCMS’ Youth Matters Fund is a merged capital and revenue fund that will provide over £400 million over the next few years to enable youth organisations across the country to deliver high-quality youth work and activities as well as refurbish or build up to 250 youth facilities. Further details on when it will open to applicants, along with guidance on the application process and eligibility criteria, will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Department ceased using Palantir’s Foundry software on 21 October 2025. Foundry was used to securely share data between MHCLG, the Home Office, Local Authorities and Devolved Administrations to support the Homes for Ukraine scheme. The National Audit Office published a report on the Homes for Ukraine scheme, including use of Palantir technology here.

The government has strengthened national planning policy to ensure that climate resilience, including wildfire risk, is considered when planning for new development.

The National Planning Policy Framework requires local planning authorities to take account of climate change adaptation, including wildfire risk where relevant, through the plan-making process. It also makes clear that development proposals should account for the current and expected impacts of climate change over their lifetime, including by minimising vulnerability to risks such as wildfires.

Through these planning reforms, the government is helping to ensure that new residential development, including where proposed in locations that may be vulnerable to wildfire hazards, is designed and located in a way that supports safer and more climate-resilient communities.

Fire and Rescue Authorities are responsible for assessing and planning for wildfire risk locally through their Community Risk Management Plans and work with other responders to ensure appropriate preparedness.

However, to strengthen resilience more broadly, MHCLG and Defra have established joint governance arrangements with partners across government and the resilience sector to drive coordinated action on prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. This work is helping to inform the development of a cross-government Wildfire Action Plan to improve resilience over the short, medium and long term.

The Building Regulations 2010 apply to new building work and are intended to protect people’s safety, health and welfare. Part M of the regulations requires reasonable provision for people to gain access to and use a building and its facilities, including nightclubs. Approved Document M (Volume 2 - Buildings other than dwellings) sets out how new building work might meet these requirements in common building situations. For existing buildings used by the public, section 20 of the Equalities Act 2010 places an anticipatory duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments, which could include the provision of advance information about access, so that customers with differing needs may use their premises and facilities and nobody is placed at a substantial disadvantage. The Building Safety Act 2022 requires the Building Safety Regulator to keep the safety and standard of buildings under review; Building Regulations can then be updated as needed.

The Building Regulations 2010 apply to new building work and are intended to protect people’s safety, health and welfare. Part M of the regulations requires reasonable provision for people to gain access to and use a building and its facilities, including nightclubs. Approved Document M (Volume 2 - Buildings other than dwellings) sets out how new building work might meet these requirements in common building situations. For existing buildings used by the public, section 20 of the Equalities Act 2010 places an anticipatory duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments, which could include the provision of advance information about access, so that customers with differing needs may use their premises and facilities and nobody is placed at a substantial disadvantage. The Building Safety Act 2022 requires the Building Safety Regulator to keep the safety and standard of buildings under review; Building Regulations can then be updated as needed.

The Government has been clear that those responsible for unsafe buildings should contribute towards the cost of fixing them. As of March 2025, the Government estimated that it will cost between £11.8bn and £22.7bn to remediate residential buildings 11 metres and above in height that have or had unsafe cladding in England.

Under the Developer Remediation Contract (DRC), 53 major developers have committed to fix or pay to fix over 2,600 buildings at a cost to themselves of around £4.2bn.

Where a building which was not developed by one of the 53 major developers requires cladding remediation, the Government has committed to grant funding. Under the terms of the grant funding agreement, the applicant is required to pursue reasonable cost recovery efforts from third parties, including developers where appropriate.

In addition, the Government is taking legal action to recover costs from those responsible using powers in the Building Safety Act 2022. For example, in May 2026 the department secured a remediation contribution order for £3.7m from a developer responsible for a building in London which the taxpayer had paid to remediate.

The Government does not publish data on the number of small and medium housebuilders who have building safety remediation liabilities. Data on the liabilities of developers under the Developer Remediation Contracts is published on gov.uk here.

The wider housebuilding sector will contribute to remediation costs through the Building Safety Levy, which comes into force from 1 October 2026. Measures within the levy to support smaller developers include an exemption for developments of fewer than 10 units, a 50% discount for new developments on previously developed land and an exemption for affordable housing.

The Government keeps the impact of building safety measures on housing delivery under review.

The Government has been clear that those responsible for unsafe buildings should contribute towards the cost of fixing them. As of March 2025, the Government estimated that it will cost between £11.8bn and £22.7bn to remediate residential buildings 11 metres and above in height that have or had unsafe cladding in England.

Under the Developer Remediation Contract (DRC), 53 major developers have committed to fix or pay to fix over 2,600 buildings at a cost to themselves of around £4.2bn.

Where a building which was not developed by one of the 53 major developers requires cladding remediation, the Government has committed to grant funding. Under the terms of the grant funding agreement, the applicant is required to pursue reasonable cost recovery efforts from third parties, including developers where appropriate.

In addition, the Government is taking legal action to recover costs from those responsible using powers in the Building Safety Act 2022. For example, in May 2026 the department secured a remediation contribution order for £3.7m from a developer responsible for a building in London which the taxpayer had paid to remediate.

The Government does not publish data on the number of small and medium housebuilders who have building safety remediation liabilities. Data on the liabilities of developers under the Developer Remediation Contracts is published on gov.uk here.

The wider housebuilding sector will contribute to remediation costs through the Building Safety Levy, which comes into force from 1 October 2026. Measures within the levy to support smaller developers include an exemption for developments of fewer than 10 units, a 50% discount for new developments on previously developed land and an exemption for affordable housing.

The Government keeps the impact of building safety measures on housing delivery under review.

The Government recognises the importance of publicly available green space for the health and wellbeing of communities. The Department has not made a specific assessment of trends in the level of loss of publicly available green space in England over the last three years, or the impact of new development on the availability of green space in urban and rural communities. However, the Government collects data on access to green and blue space. The latest data shows that 80% of households in England have access to at least one green or blue space within a 15-minute walk.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in August 2026, sets out that development plans should set local standards for the provision of different types of recreational land and facilities, as well as the provision of green infrastructure, in ways which complement each other and draw on Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Standards. These include a standard on accessible green space which sets criteria on size, proximity and quality. Policies for informal recreation should aim to secure a connected network of high quality, inclusive and accessible opportunities as part of the wider network of green space provision. The new NPPF also safeguards against the loss of open space, sport and recreation facilities.

The Government recognises the importance of publicly available green space for the health and wellbeing of communities. The Department has not made a specific assessment of trends in the level of loss of publicly available green space in England over the last three years, or the impact of new development on the availability of green space in urban and rural communities. However, the Government collects data on access to green and blue space. The latest data shows that 80% of households in England have access to at least one green or blue space within a 15-minute walk.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in August 2026, sets out that development plans should set local standards for the provision of different types of recreational land and facilities, as well as the provision of green infrastructure, in ways which complement each other and draw on Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Standards. These include a standard on accessible green space which sets criteria on size, proximity and quality. Policies for informal recreation should aim to secure a connected network of high quality, inclusive and accessible opportunities as part of the wider network of green space provision. The new NPPF also safeguards against the loss of open space, sport and recreation facilities.

The New Dimensions 2 programme is a comprehensive capital asset replacement programme to review, refresh and upgrade the National Resilience assets used by fire and rescue authorities in response to the largest and most complex incidents.

As part of the programme, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is replacing and updating the assets for the High Volume Pumping (HVP) capability, which is used in the response to wide-area flooding and large-scale fires.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service currently host an HVP capability and, accordingly, will be receiving a range of new vehicles and equipment which will replace and upgrade their current assets.

As part of our wider work on building professions, trades and occupations, we will consider the role that schemes such as Safety Schemes in Procurement and the Common Assessment Standard can play in supporting competence and reducing unnecessary duplication. We continue to develop options to deliver the Grenfell Inquiry recommendation on principal contractor licensing to ensure principal contractors working on higher-risk buildings are appropriately qualified and competent. Future reforms will be informed by the duty holder review and our call for evidence, including consideration of how existing assurance arrangements support competence. We expect to publish the findings from the review in late 2026.

In April 2026, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) published a plan to reduce remediation delays and improve application handling. Since then, BSR has increased capacity through a dedicated remediation multidisciplinary team, drawing on the successful dedicated team adopted for New Build applications in August 2025. BSR has also introduced Remediation Account Managers, redeployed staff to priority areas, and strengthened internal processes.

BSR has worked with industry to improve application quality through new remediation guidance, targeted communications, improved data sharing, and greater transparency on application progress. These measures have delivered significant improvements. Between April and August 2026, the proportion of remediation applications approved within 42 weeks increased from 72% to 89%, while average assessment times reduced from 42 weeks to 33 weeks. Assessment times are expected to reduce further as recent applications are being determined more quickly.

We acknowledge that there are many legitimate non-profit organisations that are established as companies. These companies may still be eligible to make donations, provided they can provide evidence of income equivalent to profit, in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

Non-profit community interest companies will also need to demonstrate that they meet all other permissibility criteria; they must be headquartered and incorporated in the UK, carrying out business in the UK, and where there are Persons of Significant Control, they must be UK electors or British citizens.

Progress of remediation projects can be delayed by a range of factors, including supply chain issues and contractor liquidations. Government actively supports remediation projects to consider and account for disruptive factors in their remediation plans. We engage and monitor major suppliers and contractors, including ongoing pressures stemming from disruption in the Middle East. Our monitoring indicates that across the sector as a whole, supply chain and contractor stress are not currently a major bottleneck to remediation.

Nine years on from the Grenfell tragedy, there is no justification for any building to remain unsafe. The Government is committed to ensuring that residents are at the heart of the remediation process and that buildings with unsafe cladding are made safer as quickly as possible.

Our Remediation Acceleration Plan set out measures to speed up remediation, strengthen oversight and improve support for residents. We have laid the groundwork to ensure every priority residential building with unsafe cladding is remediated. The Remediation Bill will give regulators additional powers to compel those blocking remediation to act or risk criminal prosecution.

To support affected residents, we work with the Building Safety Regulator, building owners, developers, and other responsible parties to address barriers to remediation and minimise avoidable delays.

Residents should be kept informed of progress on remediation and expected timelines, in line with the Code of Practice for the Remediation of Residential Buildings. In addition, the Remediation Acceleration Plan announced plans to introduce a Legal Duty to Remediate and other measures intended to ensure remediation is completed to clear timescales and that residents are supported throughout the process

The Building Safety Regulator has implemented improvements to accelerate processing of gateway applications for 18m+ buildings, including increasing operational capacity, targeted support for applicants and engagement with applicants. These changes are contributing to faster assessments while maintaining robust regulatory oversight.

The Government is taking forward a range of measures to reduce wildfire risk and improve the resilience of our landscapes and communities. Land managers are encouraged to assess wildfire risk and implement proportionate wildfire management plans, including measures such as managing vegetation and fuel loads, creating and maintaining fire and fuel breaks, restoring peatlands and wetlands, and improving access for firefighting. These measures are supported through Environmental Land Management schemes and Countryside Stewardship options.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is working closely with Defra and other partners to consider further measures to reduce wildfire risk, including approaches to land management, access for firefighting and the protection of communities and property. This work will inform the Government’s forthcoming Wildfire Summit and Action Plan.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is the independent body responsible for setting electoral arrangements for councils. However, it cannot undertake an electoral review until a new council has been established in law. Where a proposal is implemented, councils are asked to suggest interim electoral arrangements for inclusion in the legislation establishing the new authority. Neither councils nor Ministers have the power to draw new electoral boundaries through this process. Instead, interim arrangements must be based on existing electoral areas, including district wards, county divisions, parishes and parish wards. Councils are expected to have regard to the Commission's published guidance when developing their suggestions, and the Commission offered support to councils undertaking this work earlier in the year.

On 7 September 2026, the Secretary of State announced that implementation of local government reorganisation decisions would be paused in a number of areas while the Government considers next steps for the programme. Proposals for local government reorganisation in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, where no decision has yet been taken, will also be considered as part of that process.

The Secretary of State also set out the expectation that elections scheduled for May 2027 will proceed for existing councils. In light of that position and the review, the Government is not currently progressing work on interim warding arrangements and will set out any future requirements relating to local government reorganisation following consideration of these matters.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is the independent body responsible for setting electoral arrangements for councils. However, it cannot undertake an electoral review until a new council has been established in law. Where a proposal is implemented, councils are asked to suggest interim electoral arrangements for inclusion in the legislation establishing the new authority. Neither councils nor Ministers have the power to draw new electoral boundaries through this process. Instead, interim arrangements must be based on existing electoral areas, including district wards, county divisions, parishes and parish wards. Councils are expected to have regard to the Commission's published guidance when developing their suggestions, and the Commission offered support to councils undertaking this work earlier in the year.

On 7 September 2026, the Secretary of State announced that implementation of local government reorganisation decisions would be paused in a number of areas while the Government considers next steps for the programme. Proposals for local government reorganisation in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, where no decision has yet been taken, will also be considered as part of that process.

The Secretary of State also set out the expectation that elections scheduled for May 2027 will proceed for existing councils. In light of that position and the review, the Government is not currently progressing work on interim warding arrangements and will set out any future requirements relating to local government reorganisation following consideration of these matters.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is the independent body responsible for setting electoral arrangements for councils. However, it cannot undertake an electoral review until a new council has been established in law. Where a proposal is implemented, councils are asked to suggest interim electoral arrangements for inclusion in the legislation establishing the new authority. Neither councils nor Ministers have the power to draw new electoral boundaries through this process. Instead, interim arrangements must be based on existing electoral areas, including district wards, county divisions, parishes and parish wards. Councils are expected to have regard to the Commission's published guidance when developing their suggestions, and the Commission offered support to councils undertaking this work earlier in the year.

On 7 September 2026, the Secretary of State announced that implementation of local government reorganisation decisions would be paused in a number of areas while the Government considers next steps for the programme. Proposals for local government reorganisation in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, where no decision has yet been taken, will also be considered as part of that process.

The Secretary of State also set out the expectation that elections scheduled for May 2027 will proceed for existing councils. In light of that position and the review, the Government is not currently progressing work on interim warding arrangements and will set out any future requirements relating to local government reorganisation following consideration of these matters.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is the independent body responsible for setting electoral arrangements for councils. However, it cannot undertake an electoral review until a new council has been established in law. Where a proposal is implemented, councils are asked to suggest interim electoral arrangements for inclusion in the legislation establishing the new authority. Neither councils nor Ministers have the power to draw new electoral boundaries through this process. Instead, interim arrangements must be based on existing electoral areas, including district wards, county divisions, parishes and parish wards. Councils are expected to have regard to the Commission's published guidance when developing their suggestions, and the Commission offered support to councils undertaking this work earlier in the year.

On 7 September 2026, the Secretary of State announced that implementation of local government reorganisation decisions would be paused in a number of areas while the Government considers next steps for the programme. Proposals for local government reorganisation in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, where no decision has yet been taken, will also be considered as part of that process.

The Secretary of State also set out the expectation that elections scheduled for May 2027 will proceed for existing councils. In light of that position and the review, the Government is not currently progressing work on interim warding arrangements and will set out any future requirements relating to local government reorganisation following consideration of these matters.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is the independent body responsible for setting electoral arrangements for councils. However, it cannot undertake an electoral review until a new council has been established in law. Where a proposal is implemented, councils are asked to suggest interim electoral arrangements for inclusion in the legislation establishing the new authority. Neither councils nor Ministers have the power to draw new electoral boundaries through this process. Instead, interim arrangements must be based on existing electoral areas, including district wards, county divisions, parishes and parish wards. Councils are expected to have regard to the Commission's published guidance when developing their suggestions, and the Commission offered support to councils undertaking this work earlier in the year.

On 7 September 2026, the Secretary of State announced that implementation of local government reorganisation decisions would be paused in a number of areas while the Government considers next steps for the programme. Proposals for local government reorganisation in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, where no decision has yet been taken, will also be considered as part of that process.

The Secretary of State also set out the expectation that elections scheduled for May 2027 will proceed for existing councils. In light of that position and the review, the Government is not currently progressing work on interim warding arrangements and will set out any future requirements relating to local government reorganisation following consideration of these matters.