Current Government Consultations - January 2026

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

Provisional local government finance settlement 2026 to 2027 – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and HM Treasury

Government is seeking views on the proposals for the local government finance settlement for 2026 to 2027.

?Following the conclusion of this consultation, the final Settlement for 2026 to 2027 will be published and laid before the House of Commons in early 2026.

This consultation closes on 14 January 2026.

Provisional local government finance settlement 2026 to 2027 - GOV.UK

National Planning Policy Framework: proposed reforms and other changes to the planning system – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and HM Treasury

This consultation seeks views on a revised version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). A draft NPPF has been published alongside this consultation and both documents should be read together.

They are also seeking views on:

• data centres and onsite energy generation
• standardised inputs in viability assessments
• reforming site thresholds

This consultation closes on 10 March 2026.

National Planning Policy Framework: proposed reforms and other changes to the planning system - GOV.UK

Visitor levy in England – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and HM Treasury

The government is giving Mayoral Strategic Authorities in England the power to create local overnight visitor levies.

They are seeking views on the design of the new power including:

• whether Foundation Strategic Authorities should also have the power to create overnight visitor levies
• how any revenues collected should be used
• the types of accommodation that will and will not be included
• how levy rates should be calculated and the powers Strategic Authorities have to change them
• what Strategic Authorities need to do to introduce a levy and to change it?
• liability for the levy and how this will be assessed
• the administrative framework for overnight visitor levies, including options to minimise regulatory requirements
• equalities impacts?

This consultation closes on 18 February 2026.

Visitor levy in England - GOV.UK

Reforms to the statutory consultee system – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

Government state: “Statutory consultees play an important role in the planning application process by providing expert advice on significant environmental, transport, safety, and heritage issues. However, local planning authorities and developers report that the statutory consultee system is not working effectively.”

This consultation seeks views on reforming the role of statutory consultees in the planning system and covers the following proposals:

• removing statutory consultee status from certain bodies
• reviewing the scope of what statutory consultees advise on
• improving performance management across existing statutory consultee bodies in the planning system

This consultation closes on 13 January 2026.

Reforms to the statutory consultee system - GOV.UK

Common biomass sustainability framework – Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

This consultation is seeking views on the development of a common biomass sustainability framework, which includes proposals for strengthening existing biomass sustainability criteria in line with latest evidence as well as improvements to current monitoring, reporting and verification practices, and sets out guiding principles for addressing non-compliance. It aims to provide a consistent view on biomass sustainability across all relevant bioenergy sectors.

This consultation closes on 27 February 2026.

Common biomass sustainability framework - GOV.UK

Changes to energy infrastructure planning application fees – Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is consulting on changes to application fees for energy infrastructure developments.

They are proposing the introduction of a comprehensive cost recovery model for the planning services that DESNZ provides. The core proposal of a fixed fee model for planning applications aims to “generate revenue that will be used to resource the service delivery function, supporting timely energy infrastructure planning decisions.”

This consultation closes on 27 January 2026.

Changes to energy infrastructure planning application fees - GOV.UK

Gas system in transition: security of supply – Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

This consultation is inviting views and supporting evidence on the government’s assessment of the priorities for gas security of supply during the transition, and the associated challenges facing the gas sector. It sets out a range of proposed policy actions that government are considering in order to protect gas security in the years ahead.

This covers:

• government understanding of the changing patterns of gas supply and demand and how they expect these to evolve during the energy transition, including the continuing need for peak-day capacity
• a three-point plan for gas security of supply

This consultation closes on 18 February 2026.

Gas system in transition: security of supply - GOV.UK

Electric vehicle charging: changes to permitted development rights – Department for Transport

Permitted development rights (PDRs) allow certain building works to be carried out without the need to submit a planning application, streamlining processes and reducing costs for property owners and developers.

The government has already made changes to PDRs to support the deployment of electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints.

This consultation asks about further proposed changes to PDRs to allow for:

• multiple units of equipment housing or storage units for electric vehicle chargepoints in non-domestic, off-street car parks
• the installation of cross-pavement solutions and associated domestic chargepoints

This consultation closes on 21 January 2026.

Electric vehicle charging: changes to permitted development rights - GOV.UK

Consultation on the Introduction of Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) – HM Treasury

At Budget 2025, the government announced electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED): a new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, which will take effect from April 2028. This consultation sets out further detail on how eVED will work and seeks views its design and implementation.

This consultation closes on 18 March 2026.

Consultation on the Introduction of Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) - GOV.UK