The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's (MHCLG) has announced its decision to cease funding for the neighbourhood planning support programme.

This decision is a significant setback for localism and the highly successful neighbourhood planning initiative, which saw parish and town councils at the heart of the 2,400 communities, with more than 1,000 plans approved at referendum.

Locality, the membership organisation commissioned by MHCLG to deliver the support programme, has published a statement and issued information to bodies receiving support.  Those councils that had a technical support package approved before 31 March 2025 will continue to receive agreed support until 31 March 2026.