Local authority round-up 30 January 2026
30th January, 2026
Our Local Authority round up provides brief summaries of topical information on a weekly basis, to keep you aware of the changes and updates relevant to you.
Health and Social care
Government to end cancer postcode lottery for patients
People living in rural and coastal areas will find it easier to see a cancer specialist as the government works to end the postcode lottery for care. The most deprived parts of the country often have fewer cancer consultants, leaving patients waiting longer for care. To fix this, the government will introduce training places targeted at trusts with the biggest workforce gaps, prioritising rural and coastal areas where patients currently struggle the most with receiving care.
Working with the Royal Colleges, the government will encourage more doctors to specialise in clinical and medical oncology, increasing the number of cancer specialists. These new measures will be set out in the forthcoming National Cancer Plan, helping patients get diagnosed and treated faster as part of government’s mission to make England a world-leader for cancer survival.
To further tackle inequalities across the country, the plan will also set new national standards for cancer care and invest in the latest technologies and AI to spot cancers earlier.
For more information, please click here.
Planning & Housing
New design guidance to raise the bar for new build developments
The government have published new national guidance to set a clear benchmark for well-designed neighbourhoods, ensuring new developments are well-connected to local shops and services.
The guidance is aimed at shaping how the next generation of neighbourhoods are built, setting out how new homes should reflect modern life – from space to work from home layouts adaptable as families grow.
Working together with councils, developers will use the guidance to make visible improvements for residents, including calmer streets with less traffic to improved green spaces. New builds will be expected to address and adapt to climate change.
Local authorities will set out a vision for their area through local plans, ensuring clear design expectations are met using master plans and local design codes/guides. This new guidance is part of the biggest planning rewrite in over a decade and aims to provide clarity early in the building process to avoid costly delays to schemes and ramp up housebuilding, helping to deliver 1.5 million high-quality homes this Parliament.
For more information, please click here.
Regulatory
Sentencing Act ensuring punishment cuts crime gets Royal Assent
Legislation that will keep dangerous criminals in prison, end the cycle of less serious offenders going in and out of prison and end the crisis in our prisons has now become law.
The Sentencing Act, which has now received Royal Assent, will make sure future governments always have the prison places needed to keep people safe. The most dangerous offenders will stay in prison and the introduction of tough community restrictions mean those released from prison enter a period of supervision tailored to their risk and type of crime they have committed. This includes the biggest ever expansion in tagging and the use of restriction zones to better protect victims.
The most serious offenders – those on life sentences, IPP and extended determinate sentences – will not be released any earlier. In conjunction, the probation budget will be increased by up to £700 million over the next three years to strengthen community justice, including the probation service’s resource and ability to tag offenders. The government is also investing in new technology to reduce admin so staff can focus on work that reduces reoffending.
The new Sentencing Act measures will not take effect immediately, giving the probation service and victims support groups the time needed to prepare for these changes. Implementation will be phased over the next two years, with changes to how long offenders stay in prison and when they are recalled expected to begin in the coming months. The earned release model is expected to be rolled out this Autumn.
For more information, please click here.
Upcoming events
Subsidy control masterclass
Subsidy control is one of the first considerations in public funded initiatives – but it can also be a significant cause of uncertainty and delay. This course will cut through those concerns by equipping attendees with the expertise to spot potential issues and to manage these within the law, noting recent case law and guidance. It will cover the basics, working up to a level of detail that will be useful to the most experienced practitioners.
This masterclass series is presented by Ward Hadaway Partner Alexander Rose – recognised as a national expert in this area of law – with the last remaining session taking place in our Birmingham office on Wednesday 4 February 2026 from 9.30am – 11.30am. Secure your place here.
International Women’s Day
You and your colleagues are invited to join us for our 9th International Women’s Day celebration (formally an Endeavour Partnership event), exploring this year’s theme of Give to Gain.
Our approach to the theme focuses on the importance of investment by organisations and individuals, and the lasting impact it can have. Through our sub-theme, Empowering Women, Strengthening Business, we will look at how access to education, development and alternative routes into careers enables women to build confidence, capability and opportunity at every stage.
The event will centre around a panel discussion, bringing together senior leaders and industry experts to share practical insight and lived experience. Together we will explore what meaningful investment looks like in practice, from professional development and skills-building to inclusive leadership, non-traditional career pathways and personal growth.
The afternoon will begin with arrival drinks and informal networking. Guests will then enjoy Wynyard Hall’s afternoon tea before the panel discussion, which will be followed by an interactive Q&A session, offering the opportunity to engage directly with our speakers and continue the conversation.
You can secure your tickets here.
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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