This blog summarises the latest policy news that is important to place, including reports, inquiries, consultations, government research and events. View previous editions.
UK Government reports
| Title | Details | Published |
| Industrial Strategy | Policy paper from the Department for Business and Trade | 23 June 2025 |
UK Government inquiries and consultations
| Title | Details | Deadline |
| Community benefits and shared ownership for low-carbon energy infrastructure | A working paper by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero seeking views on potential mandatory community benefits for low-carbon energy infrastructure and shared ownership schemes. | 16 July 2025 |
Local and Regional Government
| Title | Details | Published |
| Local Growth Plans: England | Guidance for Mayoral Strategic Authorities on developing a Local Growth Plan. | 11 June 2025 |
| Government announces 25 “trailblazer neighbourhoods” to receive long-term investment | Policy paper from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. | 11 June 2025 |
| WMCA Areas of Research Interest 2025-26 | These Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) communicate the research needs of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and support evidence-based policy making toward the four mayoral priorities | 4 June 2025 |
Other reports
| Title | Details | Published |
| Lessons from Leeds: New case study explores the piloting of Areas of Research Interest (ARI) in local government | The University Policy Engagement Network (UPEN) | June 2025 |
| Grants for Good 2025: Exploring local authority grant-making to the VCSE sector | Report from the Directory for Social Change | June 2025 |
| NEW toolkit: Engaging the Disengaged: A guide for policymaker and campaigners | Policy Wise | June 2025 |
| The power of place: The role of place in driving regional pay inequalities | Report from the Resolution Foundation | June 2025 |
| How strategic authorities can develop effective local economic plans: Making devolution work | Report from the Institute for Government | June 2025 |
| Leave to Achieve: How universities can contribute to social mobility in their regions | This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation explores how universities can contribute to social mobility in their regions. | June 2025 |
| The missing piece in the big cities’ jigsaw: Why Glasgow needs a devolution deal | Report from Centre for Cities | June 2025 |
| Lessons in local growth | This report from Power to Change highlights how strategic authorities can harness the power of the social economy to drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth. | June 2025 |
| Streets ahead: building health on the high street | Report Royal Society for Public Health | June 2025 |
| Place-Based Policies for the Future | Report from the OECD | May 2025 |
| Culture, Place and Development | Report from Key Cities Innovation Network | May 2025 |
| Ghost towns: the decline of the high street and health inequalities | Report by Health Equity North | May 2025 |
| Society Watch: Delivering the Government’s Devolution Revolution | This policy briefing from NatCen offers insights into public attitudes towards devolution, following a deliberative workshop with Sussex residents. | May 2025 |
| A more collaborative way of governing? Why the UK’s Council of the Nations and Regions matters | This report from the Bennett Institute and PolicyWISE provides the first substantial examination of this flagship intergovernmental initiative. | May 2025 |
| Introducing the shuttered front | This report by Power to Change argues that visible local decline matters to people when they head to the polls. | May 2025 |
| The Social Value of Tourism | A report from Visit Britain reveals the positive cultural and social impacts that tourism has on local communities across the UK. | May 2025 |
| The case for Total Place 2.0 | A report by the Institute of Government asking what the government can learn from Total Place? | May 2025 |
| The Opportunity Index | In this report, the Sutton Trust provide the most detailed ever look at the geography of opportunity and social mobility in England. | May 2025 |
| Measuring social and cultural infrastructure | This report, by the Bennett Institute, presents a year-long exploration into measuring social and cultural infrastructure, developing a framework that highlights its core role in community life and offers practical applications for various stakeholders including policymakers, funders and those people involved in the provision and maintenance of these key assets. | April 2025 |
Events
| Title | Details | Date |
| England’s ‘devolution revolution’: prospects and challenges | The Constitution Unit | 10 July 2025, 1:00 pm–2:15 pm |
| Enabling Regional Growth: Institutional and Fiscal Lessons from England and Japan | City-REDI and CIPFA in-person event | Thu 26 Jun 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM The Exchange, 3 Centenary Square, B1 2DR |
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Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this analysis post are those of the authors and not necessarily those of City-REDI or the University of Birmingham.