Ministry Of Housing

The UK government has allocated £41 million in revenue funding and £6 million in capital funding for the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund covering 2026 to 2029, subject to successful grant agreements. The fund supports small and medium-sized voluntary, community and faith-sector charities in England, focusing on community-based homelessness prevention, improved day services for people experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping, and recovery support after people move into settled accommodation.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published detailed official statistics on fires attended by fire and rescue services in England during the year from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. The release covers fire incidents, response times, fatalities and non-fatal casualties, along with trends in average response times.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published the 2024 Housing Delivery Test measurement for relevant planning authorities in England, covering housing delivery during the 2021/22 to 2023/24 financial years. The 2024 and 2025 measurements were released together after publication delays caused by planning reforms and consultations. The 2025 results are the current assessment for decision-making and supersede the 2024 measurement. The publication also includes an updated rule book and technical note covering calculation methods, unmet-need adjustments, transitional arrangements, and possible recalculations when authorities adopt new housing requirements.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published official statistics on statutory homelessness applications, duties and outcomes in England from January to March 2026, including data on households in temporary accommodation. The release also introduces accessible data tables and information on duties owed and endings for households experiencing multiple disadvantage, while the department reviews its data outputs and invites user feedback.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published a decision letter and Inspector’s Report for a called-in outline planning application concerning land surrounding Ebbsfleet United Football Club on Stonebridge Road in Northfleet. The proposed phased redevelopment includes residential units, retail and other Class E uses, healthcare, childcare, offices, a new multi-use stadium with business and leisure facilities, a hotel, community space, open space, parking, landscaping and major changes to the A226 Galley Hill Road, Stonebridge Road and Lower Road. The 213-page decision documents apply to England and were published on 30 July 2026.

The Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness acknowledges progress reported by the Woking Commissioners and stresses the need for continued momentum in delivering the council’s commercial programme, improving housing services, and preparing for local government reorganisation.

Commissioners report ongoing improvements in Woking Borough Council’s governance, financial resilience and service delivery, while cautioning that risks persist in delivering its commercial programme and managing capacity pressures in advance of the transition to the West Surrey unitary authority.

The Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness confirms the decision to establish a single commissioner team serving both Woking and Spelthorne. The letter sets out the appointments of Lesley Seary as Lead Commissioner for Woking, Deborah McLaughlin as Regeneration and Housing Commissioner, and Barry Scarr as Finance Commissioner for Spelthorne, alongside the publication of the commissioners’ second report.

Consultation feedback prompted reforms to streamline building control procedures for fibre optic cabling and mobile mast works while maintaining safety standards. Most respondents viewed current processes for fibre optic installations as disproportionate and supported limited dispensations with conditions on competence, product standards, firestopping, and information handover. External wall drilling will be included in the scope, and notifications will be required only for higher-risk buildings. For mobile masts, Gateway Two requirements will be removed but full Gateway Three oversight retained due to safety considerations. Strong support emerged for developing competent person schemes. The Secretary of State will issue Section 11 directions implementing dispensations from September, lasting three years for fibre optic work, while core safety and regulatory requirements remain in force.

The document outlines a government consultation proposing changes to the emergency repairs provision within the higher-risk building regime to ensure urgent safety work can proceed more efficiently. It considers expanding the scope from emergency repairs to broader emergency works, and introduces the option of a new critical works route for urgent situations not currently covered. The proposals aim to reduce delays, reliance on temporary safety measures and regulatory uncertainty while maintaining building regulation standards and retrospective oversight by the Building Safety Regulator. The consultation seeks views on impacts, risks, public interest considerations, implications for vulnerable residents and hospitals, and the potential role of guidance and Competent Person Schemes.

The speech outlines the government’s strategy to expand social and council housing through major increases in grant funding, reforms to right-to-buy, and strengthened financial capacity for councils and housing associations. It highlights rising social housing starts, new investment programmes, regulatory updates, and initiatives empowering residents to manage their homes. The Housing Secretary emphasises long-term partnerships with the sector, innovative financing models, and commitments to improve both the quantity and quality of social housing across the UK.

The guidance explains how local planning authorities in England should identify potential development sites for new local plans. Authorities should conduct a thorough audit using sources such as existing plans, brownfield registers, planning applications, public land and vacant or underused sites, without ruling out land based on constraints at this stage. They should identify a broad range of site sizes and uses, including housing, employment, Gypsy and Traveller provision, and mixed-use development. A call for sites should be publicised widely and collect standard information on ownership, location, planning history, proposed use, constraints, access, viability and deliverability. Authorities may publish an unassessed list of identified sites to improve transparency, while protecting personal data. The resulting sites and information will proceed to Stage 2 assessment.

Official guidance for business tenants and landlords in England and Wales explains how to renew or end a business tenancy, including procedures for contracting out of security of tenure and the importance of obtaining legal advice. It also describes prescribed notices under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and records changes effective from 30 July 2026 that transfer jurisdiction over certain telecommunications tenancy disputes to the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal.