A brief summary of current government consultations of potential interest to RSN members. This is not intended as an exhaustive list of all relevant consultations.

- Download a printable version of the Government Consultations here

Land Use in England – Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Government state: “England has limited land with growing demands being made of it. This consultation explores the land use changes implied by commitments to restore nature, support food production, improve climate resilience and deliver new housing and infrastructure.

“It seeks views on the type and scale of land use changes that might be needed, as well as the actions government could take to support this. This will help to foster a public discussion about how land can better support government’s plan for change.”

This consultation closes on 25 April 2025.

Land use in England - GOV.UK

Draft National Policy Statement for nuclear energy generation (EN-7) – Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

Government are consulting on the draft of the new nuclear National Policy Statement (NPS) EN-7, following the previous consultation on a proposed approach to siting new nuclear power stations beyond 2025 which ran from January to March 2024.

The consultation document contains the government response to the previous consultation, and the policy proposals the government intends to take forward in EN-7.

The proposed NPS will be applicable to nuclear power stations expected to deploy beyond 2025.

This consultation closes on 3 April 2025.

Draft National Policy Statement for nuclear energy generation (EN-7) - GOV.UK

Funding arrangements for the Homelessness Prevention Grant from 2026/27 onwards – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

The Homelessness Prevention Grant (HPG) is provided to all local authorities in England to support their statutory obligations and to help deliver local homelessness and rough sleeping strategies.

This consultation is seeking views on HPG and the formula that is used to calculate the need for funding. This consultation will consider proposals on the measures and metrics used to ensure need is calculated accurately based on current and relative pressures.

This consultation closes on 11 March 2025.

Funding arrangements for the Homelessness Prevention Grant from 2026/27 onwards - GOV.UK

Review of the Fuel Poverty Strategy – Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

Fuel poverty is defined in the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 as: “a person [who] is a member of a household living on a lower income in a home which cannot be kept warm at reasonable cost.”

In 2014, the government introduced in legislation a fuel poverty target for England to improve as many fuel poor homes as is reasonably practicable to a minimum energy efficiency rating of Band C, by the end of 2030.

As part of the Warm Homes Plan, government are updating the fuel poverty strategy for England. Government has reviewed the 2021 fuel poverty strategy and concluded that a new strategy is required to support fuel poor households and lower bills.

The government is now consulting on a new strategy. This consultation is seeking views on:

• an updated policy plan to support progress towards the fuel poverty target and to help vulnerable households
• the future role of the fuel poverty target
• how fuel poverty is measured

This consultation closes on 4 April 2025.

Review of the Fuel Poverty Strategy - GOV.UK

Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: 2025 update – Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

Government is proposing to raise the minimum energy efficiency standard required of privately rented homes in England and Wales to the equivalent of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C by 2030.

The proposed policy aims to deliver significant energy bill and carbon emissions savings in the sector to deliver against government’s statutory 2030 fuel poverty target and carbon budgets.

This consultation follows on from a consultation in 2020, with updated proposals to account for new and relevant considerations, including proposed reforms to EPCs.

Government have published a consultation stage options assessment alongside this consultation to provide analysis on the estimated impact of the policy on the sector.

This consultation closes on 2 May 2025.

Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: 2025 update - GOV.UK

School accountability reform – department for Education

Government are seeking views on:

• school accountability principles
• school profiles - a new digital service which provides information about schools
• a stronger approach to school improvement through intervention 

In parallel, Ofsted is consulting on inspection reform and report cards.

Government would encourage respondents to look carefully at both consultations.

This consultation closes on 28 April 2025.

School accountability reform - GOV.UK

Local authority funding reform: objectives and principles – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

This consultation seeks views on the approach to determining new funding allocations for local authorities and fire and rescue authorities. Government state: “It also covers ways we can reduce demands on local government and increase local flexibility, for example through changes to the sales, fees and charges landscape and funding consolidation.”

This consultation relates to changes from 2026-27 onwards and is distinct to that of the provisional local government finance settlement for 2025-26.

This consultation closes on 12 February 2025.

Local authority funding reform: objectives and principles - GOV.UK

Compulsory Purchase Process and Compensation Reforms – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

This consultation seeks views on a range of proposals aimed at implementing technical reforms to make the compulsory purchase process quicker, lower costs of the process, and ensure the compensation rules are fairer.

This consultation closes on 13 February 2025.

Compulsory Purchase Process and Compensation Reforms - GOV.UK

Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

This consultation seeks views on introducing measures to strengthen the standards and conduct regime in England and ensure consistency of approach amongst councils investigating serious breaches of their member codes of conduct, including the introduction of the power of suspension.

This consultation closes on 26 February 2025.

Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England - GOV.UK

Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

This consultation concerns changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Display Energy Certificates (DECs), and air conditioning inspection reports (ACIRs).

Government state they are committed to reforming the Energy Performance of Buildings regime.

To achieve this, the consultation includes proposed reforms to enhance the regime in 5 areas:

• updating what EPCs measure through additional metrics
• updating when energy certificates are required by refining the rules for obtaining EPCs and DECs
• managing energy certificate quality
• improving the accessibility of building performance data
• strengthening the quality of air conditioning inspection reports

This consultation closes on 26 February 2025.

Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime - GOV.UK

Phasing out sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 and supporting the ZEV transition – Department for Transport

This consultation seeks views on delivering the commitment to end the sale of new cars powered solely by internal combustion engines by 2030 and supporting the UK’s transition to zero emissions vehicles. The consultation is split into 2 parts.

• Part 1 is about phasing out sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 and supporting zero emission transition.
• The second part of this consultation is about the the ZEV (zero emission vehicles) Mandate, delivered through the vehicle emissions trading schemes (VETs).

This consultation closes on 18 February 2025.

Phasing out sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 and supporting the ZEV transition - GOV.UK