Stakeholders have argued that each empty home removes a property from the housing market at a time of unaffordable rents, rising homelessness, record levels of temporary accommodation use and long waits for social housing. A group of industry stakeholders have called on the government to produce a national empty homes strategy aimed at bringing such properties back into use.
Andy Burnham became UK prime minister on 20 July 2026. Since then, the government has made a series of policy announcements and has provided an indication of its political priorities, particularly regarding the devolution of powers to local areas. This briefing summarises those announcements ahead of a debate in the House of Lords on the government’s political and legislative plans.
In 2024/25, around 1,000 prisoners a month were released from prison homeless and went on to rough sleep in England and Wales. This briefing summarises the statistics on homelessness among those released from prison, the early prison release schemes, and the statutory duties on prisons to refer those at risk of homelessness to local authority housing services.
Research Briefing
The Local Plans (Burial Space) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Mohammed of Tinsley (Liberal Democrat). The bill would establish a duty for local planning authorities in England to ensure adequate burial ground space is provided in their local area. It would also require them to set out plans for how they intend to address any shortfall in burial ground capacity.
In Focus
Concerns about abuse and intimidation towards elected representatives have increased in recent years. The Jo Cox Civility Commission made a number of recommendations in a 2024 report to address this because of concerns that this activity would dissuade people from standing in elections and encourage existing representatives to stand down. The government has instigated a number of policies to tackle the abuse and intimidation of elected representatives.
Research Briefing
The Social Housing Bill [HL] is a government bill intended to support growth in the social housing sector in England and improve the efficiency of the current right to buy system. It also includes provisions intended to protect the victims of domestic abuse.
In Focus
The level of abuse and intimidation aimed at those seeking or holding elected office in local government has been increasing. The Local Government Association has found that almost three-quarters of local councillors in England report feeling personally at risk when fulfilling their role. The government has called such abuse and intimidation unacceptable and is pursuing a range of measures in response, including via the Representation of the People Bill.
Research Briefing
This briefing explores what announcements the government could make in the King’s Speech on 13 May 2026 about housing, communities and local government.
Research Briefing
This briefing explores what announcements the government could make in the King’s Speech on 13 May 2026 about devolved affairs.
Research Briefing
The government states the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill is a “landmark” piece of legislation. Arguing that England is one of the most centralised developed countries, it says the bill would transfer power to England’s regions, “fix the foundations” of local government, empower communities and “drive growth”. However, some opposition members argue the measures would instead centralise decision making and have criticised the lack of accountability measures for mayors.
Research Briefing
The Licensing Hours Extensions Bill is a private member’s bill which would amend the Licensing Act 2003 so that licensing orders to allow a temporary extension to licensing hours could be made by the secretary of state by statutory instrument subject to the negative procedure, rather than requiring the affirmative parliamentary procedure.
Research Briefing
The Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill is a private member’s bill which seeks to align the rules regarding applying online for absent voting (postal or proxy votes) in Scotland and Wales with rules in England. While voters can currently apply for absent votes in several elections online, this does not include local elections in Scotland and Wales and elections to the Scottish Parliament and Senedd. Absent votes can still be applied for but must be done via a paper form. The bill also includes provisions giving the Scottish and Welsh governments powers to include an identity verification requirement on absent voting applications. It would also align postal voting renewal cycles. The bill is sponsored by Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour) and is scheduled to have its second reading on 5 September 2025. The bill passed its Commons stages with only technical amendments and received cross-party support.
Research Briefing
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill would make changes to the system for approving major infrastructure projects, planning committees and nature recovery. It would also make changes to electricity and transport infrastructure processes, development corporations, spatial development strategies, and compulsory purchase. The government intends the bill to help grow the economy by enabling important infrastructure and homes to be built more quickly. Some parts of the bill, particularly those related to nature recovery, have attracted criticism from opposition parties and external bodies.
In Focus
The government postponed elections in nine local authority areas in England from May 2025 to May 2026 to help with planning for local government devolution and creating unitary authorities in two-tier local government areas. There has been opposition to postponing the elections from other political parties, some councils and some members of the public. The House of Lords is due to debate motions to annul the legislation that delays the elections.
Research Briefing
The Permitted Development Rights (Extension) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Lucas (Conservative). The bill would establish new permitted development rights to make additions and alterations to domestic properties. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the bill at second reading on 7 February 2025.
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