Local Government Legislation
Legislative framework for local authority powers, council operations, municipal services, and community governance.
The Environment Act 2021 (Commencement No. 10) Regulations 2025
The Environment Act 2021 (Commencement No. 10) Regulations 2025, effective May 1, 2025, implement several sections of the Environment Act 2021 concerning biodiversity net gain.
These sections, primarily impacting planning permissions in England, introduce a condition within the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to ensure that all new developments contribute towards increasing biodiversity.
The regulations clarify specific parts of the relevant legislation that come into effect and explain the integration of these additions into existing planning processes.
While no independent cost impact assessment was deemed necessary for these regulations, reference is made to a broader impact assessment on the Environment Act 2021.
The River Tyne (Tunnels) (Revision of Toll) Order 2025
The River Tyne (Tunnels) (Revision of Toll) Order 2025, effective May 1st, 2025, revises tolls for the Tyne Tunnel.
The North East Combined Authority now sets the tolls, as specified in the Schedule.
The order revokes the previous 2024 toll revision order.
The new tolls increase the cost for cars, vans, and buses, with motorcycle tolls remaining at £0.
The Maidstone (Electoral Changes) (Amendment) Order 2025
The Maidstone (Electoral Changes) (Amendment) Order 2025 corrects errors in the 2025 Order regarding electoral boundaries in Maidstone, England.
The amendment ensures that the boundary changes accurately reflect recommendations from the Maidstone Borough Council, resolving a discrepancy originating from a failure to correctly implement those recommendations.
The Order specifies implementation dates for various purposes, and its scope extends to England and Wales but applies only in England.
The Student Accommodation (Codes of Management Practice and Specified Educational Establishments) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These regulations amend the 2024 Student Accommodation Regulations to update codes of management practice for student housing in England.
Key changes include the approval of a new Universities UK/GuildHE Accommodation Code of Practice, the specification of educational establishments under the Housing Act 2004, and the revocation of several superseded regulations.
The amendments aim to improve standards, clarify application, and streamline the regulatory framework for student housing.
The Town and Country Planning (Fees and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025
The Town and Country Planning (Fees and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025 amend existing legislation to reflect changes introduced by the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.
The regulations update fees for certain planning applications and adjust several Acts to incorporate new provisions for planning permission on Crown land in England.
These new provisions establish two application routes: one for urgent, nationally important developments and another for nationally important developments without urgency.
The Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment etc.) (England) Regulations 2025
The Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment etc.) (England) Regulations 2025 amend the 2010 Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations and the 2013 Town and Country Planning Order.
These amendments clarify the application of the Community Infrastructure Levy to certain planning determinations made by the Secretary of State or appointed persons, and enhance the information gathered on CIL liabilities within planning applications.
The changes primarily aim to improve clarity, consistency and the efficiency of the planning process concerning the levy in England.
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 2003 Regulations, extending the timeframe for rules on fair value gains and losses of pooled investment funds (Regulation 30K) until March 2029 for investments made before April 2024.
They also extend the application of regulations concerning the accounting treatment of infrastructure assets (Regulation 30M), postponing necessary adjustments until April 2028.
These changes affect how English and Welsh local authorities account for certain assets and investments in their financial statements.
The East and North Hertfordshire National Health Service Trust (Establishment) (Amendment) Order 2025
This order amends the 2000 Establishment Order for the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust.
It changes the trust's name to include "Teaching," updates its functions to focus on providing health services, modifies the director structure by adding non-executive directors (one from the University of Hertfordshire), and removes outdated provisions relating to its operational date.
The changes aim to modernize the trust's governance and legal framework.