Current Government Consultations - October 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

Consultation on streamlining infrastructure planning – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

This consultation seeks views on changes to guidance, public sector services and secondary legislation to streamline infrastructure consenting for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs).

This includes the following proposals that support the application process for development consent under the Planning Act 2008:

• new guidance about consultation and engagement following removal of statutory pre-application consultation requirements through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill
• guidance and secondary legislation to support notification and publicity
• guidance to support the acceptance stage for applications
• the use of Initial Assessments of Principal Issues to focus examinations
• guidance for public bodies about their role in examinations
• changes to regulations related to the examination of applications including compulsory acquisition
• reforms and improvements to pre-application services provided by the Planning Inspectorate and the fast-track process
• supporting pre-application services through effective resourcing of statutory bodies

This consultation closes on 27 October 2025.

Consultation on streamlining infrastructure planning - GOV.UK

Continuing the Warm Home Discount Scheme – Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

Government is seeking views on the design of the Warm Home Discount scheme from winter 2026 to 2027 to 2030 to 2031.

This consultation sets out the government’s proposals for the new scheme period and is gathering feedback from stakeholders on:

• the design of the core elements of the scheme
• options for the next scheme period in Scotland
• proposals to change the administration of the scheme
• a call for evidence on Industry Initiatives
• a call for suggestions for future improvements during the next scheme period

This consultation closes on 20 November 2025.

Continuing the Warm Home Discount Scheme - GOV.UK

Water Efficiency Standards: a review of Building Regulations 2010 Part G2 – Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Government is seeking views on revising the Water Efficiency Standards in the Building Regulations 2010 for new homes.

It includes an option to revise the: 

• Water Efficiency Standard in new homes from 125 litres per person per day to 105 litres per person per day
• Optional Technical Standard from 110 litres per person per day to 100 litres per person per day

This consultation closes on 16 December 2025.

Water Efficiency Standards: a review of Building Regulations 2010 Part G2 - GOV.UK

Industrial emissions: modernising environmental permitting – Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Defra is seeking views on proposed reforms to environmental permitting for industry.

The proposed reforms will support the government’s missions and priorities on growth, clean energy, health, the circular economy and environmental improvement.

There are proposals about:

• enabling innovation and encouraging new technologies and techniques
• agile standards – a rapid, predictable and integrated approach to standard setting
• proportionate regulation and coherence in the environmental permitting framework
• regulator effectiveness and efficiency
• creating a transparent environmental permitting framework

This consultation closes on 21 October 2025.

Industrial emissions: modernising environmental permitting - GOV.UK

Future of Post Office – Department for Business & Trade

This is a public consultation that seeks views on the future of the Post Office, from the services it provides, how government modernise and strengthen the network, through to how they change the culture and the way in which the Post Office is managed.

Responses to this consultation will be used to understand what customers, communities and postmasters would like to see from a modern Post Office, to help shape the company’s future.

This consultation closes on 6 October 2025.

Green Paper: Future of Post Office - GOV.UK