Local Authority round-up – 01 August 2025
1st August, 2025
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.
Housing
Platform4 set to develop 40,000 new homes
The Government has announced ‘Platform4’, a new Government-owned property company tasked with unlocking surplus railway land for residential development. Over the next decade, the company will acquire derelict and underutilised rail-owned brownfield sites and develop up to 40,000 new homes. The initiative is aimed particularly at supporting first-time buyers, providing homeownership opportunities and reinvesting profits from the developments back into Britain’s railways.
The new entity merges the previously separate functions of London and Continental Railways Ltd and Network Rail’s Property Team into a unified structure designed to attract over £350 million in private sector investment. The approach is expected not only to boost housing supply but also support economic growth and unlock strategic development opportunities across the country.
For more information please click here.
Health & Social Care
The Government champions the use of BSL
The Government now requires every ministerial department to produce a five-year plan for improving the use of British Sign Language (BSL) in public communications. As part of a broader commitment to accessibility, departments will now be required to report on their BSL progress.
The announcement was accompanied by the third statutory BSL report, which highlighted a rise in BSL use across departments since 2023, including improvements in event interpretation and educational developments like the BSL GCSE. The Government continues to collaborate with the BSL Advisory Board to guide implementation.
For more information please click here.
Infrastructure
Government announces reforms to ‘revamp’ high streets
The Government has announced reforms to simplify licensing and planning rules to help rejuvenate high streets by making it easier to open new cafés, bars, and music venues. Under a new National Licensing Policy Framework, local authorities will be able to fast-track permissions for outdoor dining, street events, and extended opening hours in designated ‘hospitality zones’. These changes aim to reduce red tape for small businesses and encourage the reuse of vacant retail spaces for hospitality purposes.
The reforms also include the adoption of the ‘Agent of Change’ principle, which protects existing venues from noise complaints by requiring new residential developments nearby to take responsibility for soundproofing.
The reforms are set to supplement the Government’s Small Business Plan which aims to unlock the full potential of the UK’s 5.5 million SMEs.
For more information please click 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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