Economy Legislation
Regulations governing economic policy, monetary matters, taxation, public spending, and market regulation.
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (Commencement No. 6 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2025
These Regulations bring into force specific parts of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 concerning corporate governance, director duties, and the regime for People with Significant Control (PSCs), setting the main commencement date for these provisions as 18th November 2025.
Furthermore, the Regulations establish detailed transitional rules, particularly regarding the verification of identity for directors already in office before the commencement date and for existing registrable persons, specifying staggered deadlines based on birth month or existing notification statuses.
These Regulations, made under powers granted by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and the Companies Act 2006, bring specific provisions of the 2023 Act into force on 18th November 2025, focusing primarily on identity verification for proposed officers and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs).
The document details which sections commence on that date, while Parts 3 and 4 introduce crucial transitional rules governing how existing company directors and PSCs must comply with the new identity verification requirements when submitting subsequent confirmation statements or in response to review periods.
The Non-Domestic Rating (Definition of Qualifying Retail, Hospitality or Leisure Hereditament) Regulations 2025
The Non-Domestic Rating (Definition of Qualifying Retail, Hospitality or Leisure Hereditament) Regulations 2025, enacted by the Treasury under the Local Government Finance Act 1988, sets out the precise criteria for classifying hereditaments in England and Wales as 'qualifying retail, hospitality or leisure hereditaments' starting April 1st, 2026, enabling them to benefit from a potentially lower business rates multiplier; this classification depends on the property being used wholly or mainly for specified public-facing retail, hospitality, cultural, or recreational purposes while explicitly excluding those used primarily for financial, medical, professional services, or large-scale storage and distribution.
The Designation of Special Tax Sites (Anglesey Freeport) Regulations 2025
These Regulations, made by the Treasury under powers granted by the Finance Act 2021, officially designate specific map-defined areas within the Anglesey Freeport as 'special tax sites' effective from November 21, 2025.
The designation makes qualifying capital expenditure by companies on plant, machinery, and non-residential structures within these sites eligible for enhanced capital allowances under key provisions of the Capital Allowances Act 2001.
The Designation of Special Tax Sites (Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone) Regulations 2025
These Regulations, enacted by the Treasury under powers from the Finance Act 2021, officially designate specific areas in Flintshire and Wrexham as 'special tax sites' effective from November 21st, 2025, based on their location within or connection to the designated investment zone; this formal designation qualifies expenditure on plant, machinery, structures, and buildings within these sites for enhanced capital allowances under the Capital Allowances Act 2001.
The Public Offers and Admissions to Trading (Amendment and Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2025
These Regulations, made by the Treasury under powers in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, make technical amendments and transitional provisions concerning the Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regulations 2024.
Specifically, they substitute a new provision for FCA investigation powers concerning entities subject to the 2024 Regulations, establish temporary arrangements for existing authorised persons applying to conduct the newly regulated activity of operating an electronic system for public offers, and introduce consequential amendments across various pieces of legislation, including primary and subordinate legislation and numerous UK sanctions regulations, to align them with the new framework.
These Regulations specify the dates when various sections and schedules of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 officially come into force, initiating the repeal of specific pieces of retained EU financial services legislation, including parts of the EU Prospectus Regulation 2017 and MiFIR provisions.
The commencement dates are staggered between October 2025 and January 2028, and the document includes important saving provisions to ensure continuity for existing regulatory processes, notably for operators of Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange Systems (PISCES) and offers made under pre-existing prospectuses.
The Street and Road Works (Charges and Penalties) (Amendments) (England) Regulations 2025
This statutory instrument, made under the powers of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and the Traffic Management Act 2004, amends several pieces of legislation governing street and road works in England, with effect from January 5th, 2026.
The key changes involve doubling fixed penalty amounts for notice breaches and permit violations, extending the calculation basis for charges on unreasonably prolonged occupation, and requiring highway authorities to dedicate 50% of the net excess proceeds from occupation charges to highway maintenance.