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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2025 No. 1370 (C. 81)
ACQUISITION OF LAND, ENGLAND
INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING
MARINE MANAGEMENT, ENGLAND
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING, ENGLAND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ENGLAND
WILDLIFE, ENGLAND
The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023
(Commencement No. 9) and Planning and
Infrastructure Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1
and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2025
at 2.20 p.m. on 18th
Made - - - - December 2025
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 255(7)
and (11) of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023(1) and section 118(1)(a), (1)(e), (3), (4),
(5)(b), (5)(d), (5)(g)(ii), (7), and (8)(b) of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025(2).
Citation, commencement and interpretation
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023
(Commencement No. 9) and Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1 and
Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2025.
(2) This paragraph, paragraph (3) and the transitional provisions in regulation 6 come into force
on 18th February 2026.
(3) In these Regulations “acquiring authority”, “compulsory purchase order”, and “confirming
authority” have the same meaning as defined in section 7(1) of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981(3).
(1) c. 55.
(2) c. 34.
(3) c. 67, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.Document Generated: 2025-12-29
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Provisions of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 coming into force on 18th
February 2026
2.—(1) The following provisions of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 come into force
on 18th February 2026 for compulsory purchase orders to which paragraph (2) applies—
(a) section 183 (conditional confirmation), so far as not already in force;
(b) section 184 (corresponding provision for purchases by Ministers), so far as it relates to the
provisions of Schedule 19 brought into force by paragraph (d);
(c) paragraphs 2 to 7 of Schedule 18 (conditional confirmation and making of compulsory
purchase orders: consequential amendments), so far as not already in force;
(d) paragraph 3 of Schedule 19 (compulsory purchase: corresponding provision for purchases
by Ministers), so far as not already in force.
(2) Paragraph 2(1) applies to compulsory purchase orders that are—
(a) subject to confirmation under Part 2 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 by a confirming
authority other than the Welsh Ministers(4), or
(b) prepared in draft under paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to that Act by an acquiring authority
other than the Welsh Ministers.
Provisions of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 coming into force on the day after
the day on which these Regulations are made
3.—(1) The following provisions of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, so far as they relate
to a power to make regulations, come into force on the day after the day on which these Regulations
are made—
(a) section 106 (required content of newspaper notices);
(b) section 108 (general vesting declarations: expedited procedure);
(c) section 109 (general vesting declarations: advancement of vesting by agreement);
(d) section 113(3) and (4) (amendments relating to section 14A of the Land Compensation
Act 1961).
(2) The following provisions of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 come into force on the
day after the day on which these Regulations are made—
(a) section 59 (overview of EDPs);
(b) section 60 (scope of an EDP: area, kind and volume of development and time period);
(c) section 61 (environmental features, environmental impacts and conservation measures);
(d) section 62 (nature restoration levy: charging schedules);
(e) section 63 (other requirements for an EDP);
(f) section 64(1) (draft EDP: notification and consultation);
(g) section 82 (administering, implementing and monitoring EDPs);
(h) section 94 (general duties when exercising functions relating to EDPs);
(i) section 95 (duty of co-operation);
(j) section 97 (regulations);
(k) section 99 (interpretation).
(4) See article 2 of, and Schedule 1 to, the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/672)
which transferred various functions of a Minister of the Crown, including under the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (c. 67),
to the National Assembly for Wales and paragraph 30 of Schedule 11 to the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32) which
transferred those functions to the Welsh Ministers.
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Provisions of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 coming into force on 18th February
2026
4.—(1) The following provisions of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 come into force
on 18th February 2026—
(a) section 1 (national policy statements: review);
(b) section 2 (national policy statements: parliamentary requirements);
(c) section 13 (Planning Act 2008: legal challenges);
(d) section 100 (areas for development and remit);
(e) section 101(6) to (9) (relationship between different types of development corporation);
(f) section 102 (duties to have regard to sustainable development and climate change);
(g) section 103 (powers in relation to infrastructure);
(h) subject to paragraph (2), section 106 (required content of newspaper notices), so far as
not already in force;
(i) section 108 (general vesting declarations: expedited procedure), so far as not already in
force and only in relation to England;
(j) section 109 (general vesting declarations: advancement of vesting by agreement), so far
as not already in force and only in relation to England;
(k) section 113(3) and (4) (amendments relating to section 14A of the Land Compensation
Act 1961), so far as not already in force and only in relation to England.
(l) subject to paragraph (3), Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, so far as not
brought into force by regulations 3 and 5.
(2) Paragraph (1)(h) applies to compulsory purchase orders that are—
(a) subject to confirmation under Part 2 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 by a confirming
authority other than the Welsh Ministers, or
(b) prepared in draft under paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to that Act by an acquiring authority
other than the Welsh Ministers.
(3) Paragraph (1)(I) does not apply to Part 1 of Schedule 5 to the Planning and Infrastructure
Act 2025.
Provision of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 coming into force on 1st April 2026
5. Section 91 (annual reports) of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 comes into force on
1st April 2026.
Transitional provisions relating to compulsory purchase
6.—(1) The amendments made to the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 by the provisions brought
into force by regulation 2 do not apply in relation to a compulsory purchase order where the date in
paragraph (2) is before the date on which those provisions come into force.
(2) The date in this paragraph is the date on which—
(a) notice of the making of the order is first published pursuant to section 11(1) of the
Acquisition of Land Act 1981, or
(b) notice of the preparation in draft of the order is first published pursuant to paragraph 2(1)
of Schedule 1 to the Acquisition of Land Act 1981.
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(3) The amendments made to the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981(5) made
by section 108 of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 do not apply to compulsory acquisitions
that were authorised before the day on which that section comes into force.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local
at 2.20 p.m. on 18th December 2025 Government
(5) c. 66.
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EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations bring into force provisions in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (“the
2023 Act”) and the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (“the 2025 Act”).
Regulation 2 brings sections 183, 184, paragraphs 2 to 7 of Schedule 18 and Paragraph 3 of
Schedule 19 to the 2023 Act into force on 18th February 2026. These provisions amend the
Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (“the ALA 1981”) insofar as it relates to compulsory purchase orders
(“CPOs”) subject to confirmation by a confirming authority other than the Welsh Ministers, or
prepared in draft by a Minister other than a Welsh Minister. It gives authorities responsible for
authorising a CPO the ability to authorise that CPO subject to conditions before the powers under
the relevant CPO can be exercised.
Regulation 3(1) brings sections 106, 108, 109 and 113(3) and (4) of the 2025 Act into force on the day
after the day on which these Regulations are made as far as they relate to a power to make regulations.
Section 106 simplifies the information relating to the description of land required to be included
in notices that are required to be published in a newspaper as part of the CPO process. Section
108 amends the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 (“the CPVDA 1981”) and
introduces processes for the earlier vesting of land in acquiring authorities under the general vesting
declaration procedure where the land is unoccupied or where the acquiring authority cannot identify
anyone with an interest in the land. Section 109 amends the CPVDA 1981 and introduces a process
for the earlier vesting of land under the general vesting declaration procedure by agreement. Section
113(3) and (4) enable acquiring authorities using the power in section 125 of the Local Government
Act 1972 (compulsory acquisition of land on behalf of parish or community councils) to include
in their CPOs directions that compensation is to be assessed in accordance with section 14A of the
Land Compensation Act 1961 (cases where prospect of planning permission to be ignored).
Regulation 3(2) brings into force on the day after the day on which these Regulations are
made provisions in Part 3 of the 2025 Act to allow Natural England to begin preparation of an
environmental delivery plan (“EDP”).
Regulation 3(2)(a) to (e) brings into force sections 59 to 63 of the 2025 Act which make provision
about what an EDP is and the required contents.
Regulation 3(2)(f) brings into force 64(1) which requires Natural England to notify the Secretary of
State when it decide to prepare an EDP and publish that notification.
Regulation 3(2)(g) brings into force section 82 which makes provision for Natural England’s
functions in administrating, implementing and monitoring EDPs.
Regulation 3(2)(h) brings into force section 94 which makes provision for general duties to be
imposed on Natural England and the Secretary of State when exercising functions relating to EDPs.
Regulation 3(2)(i) brings into force section 95 which imposes a duty on public authorities to co-
operate with Natural England and give it such reasonable assistance as it requests in connection with
the preparation or implementation of an EDP.
Regulation 3(2)(j) brings into force section 97 which makes provision for the creation of statutory
instruments containing nature restoration levy regulations.
Regulation 3(2)(k) brings into force section 99 which makes provision for how certain terms should
be interpreted.
Regulation 4 brings into force on 18th February 2026 a number of provisions of the 2025 Act.
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Regulation 4(1)(a), (b) and (c) bring into force sections 1, 2 and 13. Section 1 establishes a new
requirement for National Policy Statements (“NPSs”) to be subject to a full review and updated at
least every five years through amendments to the Planning Act 2008 (“the PA 2008”). Section 2
amends sections 6 and 9 of the PA 2008 to provide an additional parliamentary procedure for making
material policy amendments to NPSs where proposed amendments fall into the definition set out
at new subsection (9)(11) of the PA 2008. Section 13 changes the process for judicial review of
NPSs and development consent decisions made by the Secretary of State for Nationally Significant
Infrastructure Projects.
Regulation 4(1)(d), (e), (f) and (g) bring into force sections 100, 101(6) to (9), 102 and 103. Section
100 amends the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (“the LGPLA 1980”), the New
Towns Act 1981 (“the NTA 1981”), and the Localism Act 2011 (“the LA 2011”) to provide greater
clarity and flexibility for development corporations. Section 101 clarifies the relationship between
different types of development corporation so that any area of overlap in proposed new corporations
will be resolved in favour of the higher-tier authority. Section 102 amends the NA 1981, the LGPLA
1980, and the LA 2011 to provide for the standardisation of objectives on sustainable development,
climate change, and good design across all development corporation types. Section 103 standardises
the list of infrastructure that can be provided by all development corporation types to equalise it with
existing Mayoral Development Corporations.
Regulation 4(1)(h), (i), (j) and (k) bring into force section 106, in relation to CPOs subject to
confirmation by a confirming authority other than the Welsh Ministers, or prepared in draft by a
Minister other than a Welsh Minister, so far as it is not already in force; and sections 108, 109 and
113(3) and (4), in relation to England, so far as they are not already in force.
Regulation 4(1)(l) brings into force the remaining provisions of Part 3 of the Act, except for those
brought into force by regulations 3 and 5.
Regulation 5 brings into force section 91 of the 2025 Act on 1st April 2026. This section requires
Natural England to publish a report for each financial year on the exercise of its functions under
Part 3 of the 2025 Act.
Regulation 6 contains transitional provisions relating to compulsory purchase.
Regulation 6(1) contains a transitional provision relating to the amendments made by paragraphs
2 to 7 of Schedule 18 to the 2023 Act such that those amendments do not apply to compulsory
purchase orders where either the notice of the making of the order is first published or the notice of
the preparation in draft of the order is first published is on a date before those amendments come
into force.
Regulation 6(3) contains a transitional provision relating to the amendments made by section 108 of
the 2025 Act such that those amendments do not apply to compulsory acquisitions authorised before
that section comes into force.
An impact assessment has been produced in relation to the 2023 Act and copies can be obtained
at https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3155/publications or from the Ministry of Housing, Communities
and Local Government at 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF. An impact assessment has been
produced in relation to the 2025 Act and copies can be obtained at https://publications.parliament.uk/
pa/bills/cbill/59-01/0196/IA_annexes.pdf or from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local
Government at 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF, United Kingdom.
NOTE AS TO EARLIER COMMENCEMENT REGULATIONS
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
The following provisions of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 have been brought into
force by commencement Regulations made before the date of these Regulations.
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Provision Date of Commencement S.I. No.
Section 78 31.01.2024 2024/92
Section 81 31.01.2024 2024/92
Sections 84 to 86 31.03.2024 2024/389
Sections 89 to 91 31.03.2024 2024/389
Section 94 31.01.2024 2024/92
Section 103 25.04.2024 2024/452
Section 105 25.07.2024 2024/452
Sections 106 and 107 31.01.2024 2024/92
(partially)
Section 109 (partially) 01.05.2025 2025/430
Section 111 (partially) 31.03.2024 2024/389
Sections 115 to 120 25.04.2024 2024/452
Section 122 25.04.2024 2024/452
Section 123 31.01.2024 2024/92
Section 124 25.04.2024 2024/452
Section 129 31.01.2024 2024/92
Section 135 12.02.2024 2024/92
Section 140 31.01.2024 2024/92
Section 171 (partially) 31.03.2024 2024/389
Section 180 31.01.2024 2024/92
Section 181 (partially) 31.01.2024 2024/92
Section 181 (partially) 30.04.2024 2024/389
Section 181 (partially) 02.12.2025 2025/1262
Sections 182 and 183 31.03.2024 2024/389
(partially)
Section 183 (partially) 02.12.2025 2025/1262
Section 184 (partially) 31.01.2024 2024/92
Section 184 (partially) 31.03.2024 2024/389
Section 184 (partially) 30.04.2024 2024/389
Section 184 (partially) 02.12.2025 2025/1262
Sections 185 to 188 31.01.2024 2024/92
Section 189 31.01.2025 2024/92
Section 190 (partially) 31.03.2024 2024/389
Section 190 (partially) 30.04.2024 2024/92
Sections 191 to 202 02.12.2024 2024/1138
7Document Generated: 2025-12-29
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item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
Provision Date of Commencement S.I. No.
Section 203 (partially) 31.03.2024 2024/389
Section 203 (remainder) 02.12.2024 2024/1138
Section 204 02.12.2024 2024/1138
Sections 205 and 206 31.03.2024 2024/389
(partially)
Sections 205 and 206 02.12.2024 2024/1138
(remainder)
Sections 207 to 213 02.12.2024 2024/1138
Section 214 (partially) 31.03.2024 2024/389
Section 214 (remainder) 02.12.2024 2024/1138
Section 215 31.03.2024 2024/389
Sections 216 to 218 02.12.2024 2024/1138
Section 229 31.03.2024 2024/389
Sections 237 and 238 01.11.2024 2024/1000
In Schedule 4—
paragraphs 226 (partially) and 26.12.2023 2023/1405
227 to 229
paragraphs 226 (remainder) 07.05.2024 2023/1405
and 230
Schedule 5 31.01.2024 2024/92
In Schedule 9—
paragraph 1 (partially) 31.01.2024 2024/92
Schedule 10 (partially) 01.05.2025 2025/430
Schedule 13 (remainder) 31.03.2024 2024/389
In Schedule 18—
paragraph 3(1) and (2) 02.12.2025 2025/1262
In Schedule 19—
paragraph 1 (partially) 31.01.2024 2024/92
paragraph 1 (partially) 30.04.2024 2024/389
paragraph 1 (partially) 02.12.2025 2025/1262
paragraphs 2 and 3 (partially) 31.03.2024 2024/389
Schedules 20 and 21 02.12.2024 2024/1138
Schedule 22 31.03.2024 2024/389
Schedule 23 01.11.2024 2024/1000
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