Policy News – July 2026

Policy News highlights the latest reports, inquiries, consultations and research shaping local and regional policy across the UK. Explore key developments in devolution, economic growth, community ownership, skills and place-based policymaking. 

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If you have a piece of research you would like to feature in Policy News, please get in touch.

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UK Government and Parliament Inquiries

Title	Details	Deadline
Devolving power in England	Public Account Committee	The deadline to submit evidence is 11:59pm on 17 August 2026.

UK Government Reports

Title	Details	Published
Towns Fund evaluation: final findings	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government	July 2026
Devolution in England: funding and accountability	National Audit Office	July 2026
Place Based Budgets: programme	Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.	July 2026
Climate Action Hubs programme: evaluation	Scottish Government	July 2026
Local Digital programme: monitoring and evaluation final report	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government	June 2026
Flying Blind: Innovation, Growth and the Regions	Report from the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee	March 2026

Reports

Title	Details	Published
Understanding local economic performance: investment	What Works Centre for Economic Development	July 2026
Keys to the future: How we build a new era of community ownership	Power to Change	July 2026
The Greater Manchester Post-16 Skills Pathways report	Greater Manchester Universities	July 2026
Combined Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) Report	Bradford City Council	July 2026
Northern Economy	Substack from JP Spencer	July 2026
A decade of post-Brexit regeneration funding: Reform and resentment	Report from Public First	July 2026
Flourish – Good Green Training and Work in Grimsby	Institute for the Future of Work	June 2026
Citizens economy: a new deal to power economic growth and rebuild trust between state and citizen	Report from Demos	June 2026
A guide to urban storytelling	URBACT	June 2026
The Participatory Council	INLOGOV, University of Birmingham	June 2026
Taxing for take-off: a new plan for fiscal devolution	Re:State report	June 2026
Local Identity, Pride and Branding in Place Transformation	OECD report	May 2026
Economies of Coordination: Unlocking growth and opportunity for young people in Britain’s left-behind neighbourhoods	Report from Demos	April 2026

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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.

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