Local Government Legislation
Legislative framework for local authority powers, council operations, municipal services, and community governance.
The Portishead Branch Line (MetroWest Phase 1) (Correction) Order 2025
This Order, titled The Portishead Branch Line (MetroWest Phase 1) (Correction) Order 2025, formally enacts corrections to errors and omissions found within The Portishead Branch Line (MetroWest Phase 1) Order 2022, which originally granted development consent under the Planning Act 2008.
The Secretary of State made these corrections, which range from minor typographical adjustments to definitional changes affecting bodies like Network Rail and National Grid, subsequent to a formal written request from the applicant.
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 School Admissions (Admission Arrangements and Co-ordination of Admission Arrangements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State under powers within the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, amend the 2012 School Admissions Regulations by specifically updating Schedule 4 to include a new recognized entry for the Nancy Reuben Primary School and the Office of the Rabbis of Od Yosef Hai Synagogue, Hendon, detailing its location, and these rules come into force on November 6th, 2025, and apply to both England and Wales.
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 Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons Sanctions (Overseas Territories) Order 2025
This Order in Council extends the Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons Sanctions Regulations 2025, along with relevant provisions of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, to eleven specified British overseas territories starting on October 16, 2025.
The extension applies with specific modifications detailed in Schedule 2, which primarily substitute references from UK bodies like the Treasury or Secretary of State with the respective Territory's Governor for the administration of sanctions, including designating persons, issuing licences, and enforcing immigration and financial restrictions related to combating people smuggling and trafficking.
The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Development Consent (Correction) Order 2025
This Order officially corrects specific errors and omissions identified in the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Development Consent Order 2024, which was granted under the Planning Act 2008.
The Secretary of State for Transport issued this correction following a formal request from the applicant, implementing textual changes to articles, schedules, and updating the list of certified documents to ensure legal accuracy and clarity regarding the approved development.
The Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Amendment Order 2025
This Order, made by the Secretary of State with the consent of the Treasury, amends the Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Order 1998 to revise how housing benefit subsidy is calculated and paid to local authorities in England, Wales, and Scotland.
Key changes include updating the Housing Benefit Assurance Process deadline, allowing local authorities flexibility in limiting deductions for historic overpayments, substituting the schedules detailing administration subsidy sums for the 2024-2025 relevant year, adjusting incentive payments for verification schemes, and setting specific deduction figures for Welsh authorities for the 2025/2026 relevant year.
The Oaklands Farm Solar Park (Correction) Order 2025
This Order, known as the Oaklands Farm Solar Park (Correction) Order 2025, formally enacts corrections to the original 2025 Development Consent Order (DCO) granted under the Planning Act 2008, following a request from the applicant.
The Order specifies these technical amendments, primarily involving the substitution of lists, numbering sequences, and minor textual variations across various articles and schedules pertaining to the solar park development, and it came into force on October 9th, 2025.