Current Government Consultations - July 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

VAT treatment of land for social housing – HMRC & HM Treasury

This consultation seeks views on the introduction of a new VAT zero rate for land intended for the construction of social housing. It explores how current VAT rules affect land acquisition, development timing and cashflow, and invites views on the scope, design and administration of any new relief.

This consultation closes on 18 August 2026.

VAT treatment of land for social housing - GOV.UK

Premises closure orders – Home Office

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 gives the Secretary of State new powers to amend the duration of closure orders in the Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, subject to consultation.

The government is seeking views on increasing:

• the maximum duration of closure orders issued under section 80 of the 2014 Act
• the maximum period for which a closure order can be extended under section 82
• the maximum overall duration of an extended order

Police and local authorities can ask a magistrates’ court to issue a closure order when a premises is associated with serious nuisance, disorder or criminal behaviour.

This consultation closes on 31 July 2026.

Premises closure orders - GOV.UK

Permitted development rights: schools, assets of community value, defence and conservation – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

This consultation contains proposed changes to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, as amended.

It covers the following areas:

• extending the existing temporary permitted development right for schools affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC)
• removing assets of community value from the demolition permitted development right
• changes to the permitted development right that allows development by the Crown on closed defence sites
• new permitted development flexibilities to enable the development of conservation measures within environmental delivery plans

This consultation closes on 5 August 2026.

Permitted development rights: schools, assets of community value, defence and conservation - GOV.UK

Make Work Pay: ending one-sided flexibility – reforms of zero hours and similar contracts – Department for Business & Trade

The government’s manifesto committed to end one-sided flexibility and ensure all jobs provide a baseline of security and predictability. The government has taken this forward through 3 measures in the Employment Rights Act 2025, giving employees the right to:

• guaranteed hours, where the number of hours offered reflects the hours worked by a qualifying worker during a reference period
• reasonable notice of shifts and changes to these
• payment for shifts cancelled, curtailed or moved at short notice

These measures have not yet taken effect. This consultation seeks input on details of the new rights, which will be set out in regulations.

This consultation closes on 25 August 2026.

Make Work Pay: ending one-sided flexibility – reforms of zero hours and similar contracts - GOV.UK

Reforming Consumer Protection for Home Upgrade Schemes – Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

This consultation invites views on how consumer protection for home upgrades should be reformed to support delivery of the Warm Homes Plan.

Government state: “In most cases, work on government schemes is safe and carried out to a high standard. However, evidence of failings in Energy Company Obligation 4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme, has highlighted weaknesses in the current consumer protection and oversight framework for home upgrades.”

In October 2025, the Minister for Energy Consumers set out the following priorities for reforming the consumer protection system:

• Work should be right first time. Consumers must be able to trust that work will be done right the first time in all but the rarest circumstances.
• People should not be expected to navigate a variety of organisations when they want to make changes to improve their homes.
• Swift remediation and a straightforward process for redress. In those rare cases where things do go wrong, there must be clear lines of accountability, so that consumers have defined routes to get work fixed and are protected financially.

To achieve this, this consultation proposes various reforms.

This consultation closes on 10 September 2026.

Reforming Consumer Protection for Home Upgrade Schemes - GOV.UK

Improving help and child protection: revised framework – Department for Education

This consultation will inform updates to Working together to safeguard children, Children’s social care national framework and policy underpinning the development of multi-agency child protection team regulations.

Government would like to hear your views on whether the proposed updates are:

• clear and easy to understand
• practical to implement
• likely to improve outcomes for children and their families

These proposals include measures to strengthen support for families, such as:

• making better use of family networks
• improving multi-agency child protection arrangements for all children
• supporting better decision-making across safeguarding partners

This consultation closes on 4 September 2026.

Improving help and child protection: revised framework - GOV.UK

Electric vehicles: strategic charging infrastructure scheme – Department for Transport

The government is committed to decarbonising road transport. A visible charging network is essential for successful electric vehicle (EV) uptake.

Motorway service areas (MSAs) offer charging on major routes, particularly for long-distance travel. However, limited access to affordable electricity network capacity remains a significant barrier to charger rollout in England.

The strategic charging infrastructure (SCI) scheme aims to strengthen electricity network infrastructure to selected MSAs where investment is not commercially viable. This will enable the deployment of ultra-rapid chargers.

This consultation seeks industry views on site selection and terms for accessing the resulting network capacity. Feedback and evidence from this consultation will inform the design of the scheme.

This consultation closes on 28 July 2026.

Electric vehicles: strategic charging infrastructure scheme - GOV.UK

Shaping the future of early years teaching – Department for Education

Ensuring every child has the best start in life and the chance to achieve and thrive is central to the government’s Opportunity Mission.

As outlined in ‘Giving every child the best start in life’, government want to champion early years teachers and the high-quality provision they provide.

This consultation sets out proposals to reform how early years teachers are prepared and supported. They aim to:

• raise the quality of training
• strengthen the professional status of early years teachers
• ensure children benefit from excellent teaching wherever they attend early

This consultation closes on 24 September 2026.

Shaping the future of early years teaching - GOV.UK

16 to 19 performance measures – Department for Education

Government are seeking views on proposals to improve 16-19 performance measures. The proposals aim to reform performance measures so that they improve outcomes and provide parents, students, and other users of the data with reliable and meaningful information.

• They are seeking views on:
• Ways in which we can make 16-19 performance measures more consistent and comprehensive
• Improvements to English and maths progress measures
• Refining retention measures

This consultation closes on 21 July 2026.

16 to 19 performance measures - GOV.UK