This blog summarises the latest policy news that is important to place, including reports, inquiries, consultations, government research and events. It is updated every week. View previous editions.
If you have a piece of research you would like to feature in Policy News, please get in touch.
UK Government
| Title | Details | Date |
| Pride in Place: 40 neighbourhoods join transformational programme | Local people in 40 new areas across England will be able to decide where up to £20 million is invested in their neighbourhood – whether that’s breathing new life into high streets, saving much-loved community spaces, or bringing people together through local events and activities. | February 2026 |
| Major local government shakeup in 14 areas opens for views | Ministers have received a total of 52 submissions from local leaders in 14 areas, including Devon, Derbyshire, and Ken,t relating to local government reorganisation. | February 2026 |
| Local Outcomes Framework | Policy paper about the framework establishes a shared focus on the outcomes most important for achieving our collective aims and ultimately to raise living standards across England. | February 2026 |
| The Green Book – new edition | The Green Book is the government’s guidance on appraisal, the process of assessing the costs, benefits and risks of different options for achieving government objectives. | February 2026 |
Other reports and publications
| Title | Details | Published |
| Liz Shutt – Harnessing the power of research and evidence to support place-based policy | Podcast with the Foundation for Science and Technology | February 2026 |
| Perspectives on Place: What the English think about their local area | Report by Professor Will Jennings, University of Southampton | February 2026 |
| Cities Outlook 2026 | Centre for Cities’ Annual health check of the economic performance of urban Britain offers a deep dive into the latest economic data on how UK cities are performing against a range of indicators, including innovation, housing, skills, employment and productivity. | January 2026 |
| No Short Cuts: Towards a National Strategy for Neighbourhood Recovery | The Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods | January 2026 |
| Delivering local partnerships on England’s railways: a practitioner’s guide for building partnerships between Great British Railways and Mayoral Strategic Authorities | Guide from the Urban Transport Group | Delivering local partnerships on England’s railways: a practitioner’s guide for building partnerships between Great British Railways and Mayoral Strategic Authorities |
| The Missing Links: Connecting Disadvantaged Neighbourhoods to New Economic Opportunities | Policy working paper from the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods. | December 2025 |
| A force for growth: Spotlighting the role of councils in enabling inclusive economic growth | A Local Government Association report identifies the essential role that councils play in underpinning inclusive growth, ensuring that our residents and businesses are central to that growth and benefit from the opportunities it brings. | December 2025 |
| Connected Devolution: Digital Systems for Successful Reorganisation | Report from Localis | December 2025 |
| The role of sport, arts and culture in supporting community cohesion | Report from the Local Government Association | December 2025 |
Find out more about the Local Policy Innovation Partnership Hub. If you have a piece of research that you would like to be featured in Policy News, please get in touch.
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.