Briefings and responses

Key Messages Ensuring local planning authorities have the resources they need to administer the planning system is critical; currently, nine out of ten planning departments report difficulties with recruitment, and almost all (97%) report significant planning skills gaps. The key messages in this response argue for:

Government must be mindful of balancing interests of national growth with the role of local councils and councillors, as well as trust and democracy in the planning system.

While we broadly support the Government’s intention to streamline and speed up the planning system, we remain concerned about the potential erosion of local democracy and the limited flexibility created by a highly standardised national scheme of delegation as set out in our response to the previous technical consultation.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government held a consultation from 12 February to 26 March 2026 on proposed geographies for producing spatial development strategies.

Local government fully shares the Government's commitment to significantly boost housebuilding and stands ready to work constructively to deliver the 1.5 million safe, decent, and genuinely affordable homes.

The Regulator of Social Housing held a consultation from 9 December 2025 to 3 March 2026 on changes to consumer standards and requirements, following a direction from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

This response integrates the feedback from LGA members across the Inclusive Growth, Culture Tourism and Sport, and Fire and Rescue Authority Committees as well as engagement with planning officers.

Research commissioned by the LGA and partners at the National Federation of Almo’s (NFA), Charted Institute of Housing (CIH), Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH), and Councils with Almo’s Group (CWAG) looks at social housing providers preparation for Awaab’s Law and issues of no access.

Local authorities and the communities they represent are critical to the success of local and national inclusive growth, and the delivery of much-needed infrastructure.

Councils are on the frontline of tackling and preventing homelessness, but rising demand and spiralling costs mean the system is at crisis point.