Economy Legislation
Regulations governing economic policy, monetary matters, taxation, public spending, and market regulation.
The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026
- Department: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Made under: Town and Country Planning Act 1990
Mandated the delegation of specific planning decisions to local authority officers and capped the size of planning committees at 13 members.
These regulations mandate how local planning authorities in England must distribute decision-making powers between elected member committees and unelected officers for various types of planning applications.
The instrument requires smaller-scale applications, such as householder and minor residential projects, to be determined by officers, while allowing larger or more significant developments to be referred to a committee of no more than 13 members.
These requirements apply to all relevant local planning authorities in England beginning 31 October 2026.
The Energy Act 2023 (Commencement No. 5, Saving Provisions) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Made under: Energy Act 2023
Commenced new offshore abandonment charging provisions and established transitional protections for pending fee determinations.
These Regulations bring into force provisions of the Energy Act 2023 that reform how the UK government charges for the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas installations and pipelines.
The order repeals existing fee-setting powers in the Petroleum Act 1998 and brings into effect new expenditure recovery mechanisms, while maintaining the older fee structure for projects that are already underway or have submitted formal requests by 30 September 2026.
These rules apply to offshore installation operators and owners of submarine pipelines, excluding those dedicated to carbon capture and storage.
Corrected typographical errors and cross-reference numbers in the 2026 anti-money laundering regulations.
This document issues technical corrections to the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2026.
It amends specific cross-references within regulation 15 and regulation 26 to ensure the legal text accurately refers to the intended sub-paragraphs and numbered lists.
These corrections apply to the same financial institutions and reporting entities regulated under the original 2026 instrument.
The Offshore (Oil and Gas) Installation and Pipeline Abandonment Charges (Revocation) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Made under: Petroleum Act 1998
Replaced fixed decommissioning fees with a system of hourly charges and cost recovery for government work on offshore oil and gas abandonment programmes.
These regulations establish a new charging regime for the decommissioning and abandonment of offshore oil and gas installations and pipelines in the United Kingdom.
They authorize the Secretary of State to recover costs from persons who have been served with a 'section 29 notice' by applying hourly rates for administrative, decommissioning, and environmental specialist staff, plus additional expenses for commissioned work.
The regulations apply to all holders of abandonment notices for offshore installations and submarine pipelines, excluding carbon dioxide pipelines, and clarify that all such holders are jointly and severally liable for the accrued charges.
The Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit and Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Made under: Energy Act 2013
Updated nuclear material reporting deadlines, extended record retention to 30 years, and revised facility design questionnaires to align UK safeguards with international obligations.
These Regulations amend existing nuclear safeguards and fee structures to update reporting requirements, terminology, and administrative timelines for operators of qualifying nuclear facilities in the United Kingdom.
They direct operators to provide more detailed design information, extended records retention, and adjusted notice periods for the import and export of nuclear material while authorizing the Office for Nuclear Regulation to recover costs for its expanded oversight activities.
These rules apply to all nuclear facility operators, carriers, and agents handling qualifying nuclear material across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The Trade (Mobile Roaming) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
- Made under: Trade Act 2021
Reduced the maximum wholesale roaming charges for calls, texts, and data services in EEA EFTA countries.
These Regulations lower the maximum wholesale rates that mobile service providers may charge each other for roaming services in specific territories covered by the UK-EEA EFTA Free Trade Agreement.
The order reduces the price caps for making telephone calls and sending SMS messages, and establishes a two-stage reduction for data transmission charges.
These changes apply to mobile network operators providing roaming services under the international agreement between the UK, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
Corrected a typographical error in Regulation 6 regarding section numbering.
This document issues a technical correction to The Provision of Services (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026.
It modifies Regulation 6 to ensure the correct alphanumeric reference is used within the text.
The correction applies to any person or agency interpreting or enforcing the service provision standards established by the original 2026 instrument.
The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 and Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 (Amendment) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Made under: Electricity Act 1989, Consumer Protection Act 1987
Authorized the use of standard plugs for plug-in solar microgenerators up to 800 watts and mandated compliance with a new interim product specification.
These Regulations permit the use of standard plugs for plug-in solar microgenerators with a maximum output of 800 watts, provided they meet specific safety criteria.
They authorize notified bodies to approve plugs that do not fully conform to British Standard BS 1363 solely because they facilitate electricity generation.
The instrument applies to manufacturers of plug-in solar devices, notified bodies responsible for safety certification, and consumers in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland (though grid-related amendments apply only to Great Britain).