Current Government Consultations - June 2025

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

Space requirements in early years childcare settings in England – Department for Education

Government state: “The expansion of funded childcare for working parents is supporting families and helping parents to enter work or increase their hours.

“To meet demand for the expanded entitlements, additional childcare places are required. However, one of the barriers to expanding childcare provision is the indoor space requirements in the EYFS frameworks.

“Therefore, we are consulting on potential options for amending the EYFS indoor space requirements. This is in addition to other initiatives planned to increase places by September 2025.”

This consultation closes on 11 July 2025.

Space requirements in early years childcare settings in England - GOV.UK

Improving the implementation of biodiversity net gain for minor, medium and brownfield development – Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Government want to know what you think about the implementation of biodiversity net gain (BNG) for minor, medium and brownfield development.

BNG is a way of creating and improving natural habitats. BNG makes sure development has a measurably positive impact (‘net gain’) on biodiversity, compared to what was there before development.

This consultation includes options around extending exemptions, simplifying the small sites metric and increasing ease of access to the off-site market. It also addresses specific challenges for brownfield developments.

This consultation closes on 24 July 2025.

They are also consulting separately on BNG for nationally significant infrastructure projects.

Improving the implementation of biodiversity net gain for minor, medium and brownfield development - GOV.UK 

Community benefits and shared ownership for low carbon energy infrastructure – Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

This working paper seeks views on the design of a potential mandatory community benefits scheme for low carbon energy infrastructure and the facilitation of shared ownership for renewable generation infrastructure.

It covers:

• the scope of such a scheme
• how a scheme should be administered and enforced
• how best to facilitate shared ownership of renewable generation infrastructure, including whether the powers in the Infrastructure Act 2015 should be exercised

If you would like to provide your views, please respond online by 16 July 2025.

Community benefits and shared ownership for low carbon energy infrastructure - GOV.UK 

Reform of planning committees: technical consultation – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

Further to the introduction of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill this consultation seeks views on the implementation of the three aspects of reform proposed:

• a national scheme of delegation
• control of the size and composition of planning committees
• mandatory member training

This consultation closes on 23 July 2025.

Reform of planning committees: technical consultation - GOV.UK

??Implementing measures to improve Build Out transparency?: ?Technical consultation – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

This technical consultation sets out the rationale for implementing the new statutory build out information requirements and the power to decline to determine applications, including setting out the importance of build out and the government’s plan to improve build out transparency. It then goes into details of how the provisions are proposed to be applied, seeking specific views on: 

• ?the type of development these build out measures will apply to
• ?introducing and implementing build out statements
• ?implementing commencement notices
• ?implementing development progress reports
• ?sites where multiple developers are involved in build out
• implementing the power to decline to determine applications
• ?potential impacts of the proposed measures?

This consultation closes on 7 July 2025.

Implementing measures to improve Build Out transparency?: ?Technical consultation - GOV.UK 

Consultation on financial thresholds in charity law – Department for Culture, Media & Sport

This consultation seeks views on the financial thresholds in charity law and whether or not to increase them in line with inflation.

The Law Commission’s 2017 report ‘Technical Issues in Charity Law’ recommended that the government periodically review all financial thresholds in the Charities Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”) with a view to increasing them in line with inflation. The government accepted this recommendation, and committed to conducting a review at least every 10 years, subject to resources.

This consultation closes on 12 June 2025.

Consultation on financial thresholds in charity law - GOV.UK 

Boiler Upgrade Scheme and certification requirements for clean heat schemes – Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

Part 1 of this consultation seeks views on proposed amendments to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) which provides grants to support property owners in transitioning to low carbon heating (LCH) systems.

The proposed changes are designed to increase access, stimulate further demand and enhance existing consumer protections. They include:

• allowing new heat pump purchase options alongside the BUS grant
• expanding eligibility for LCH technologies
• reviewing potential barriers to the consumer installation journey
• enhancing consumer protection by simplifying certification requirements and requiring installers to deduct grants upfront

Part 2 seeks views on the government’s proposal to:

• require the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) as the sole certification scheme for clean heat installations delivered through:
• BUS
• Energy Company Obligation 4
• Warm Homes: Local Grant
• Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund
• remove the option for multiple certification schemes to certify installations

This consultation closes on 11 June 2025.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme and certification requirements for clean heat schemes - GOV.UK

Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper – Department for Work & Pensions

This consultation seeks views on the approaches government should consider around reform of the health and disability benefits system and employment support.

This consultation closes on 30 June 2025.

Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper - GOV.UK