A range of measures launched is designed to improve communities’ infrastructure, champion neighbourhood design and support walking and cycling

Plans for new unitary councils in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset have taken an important step forward following approval from Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick in July.

Details have been announced of the government's Partnerships for People and Place project, to test innovative ways of working across the public sector. Expressions of interest are being invited from the 34 long-listed candidate authorities for up to 15 selected areas

Fashion giant Gap has confirmed plans to close all its 81 stores in the UK and Ireland and go online-only. It joins other retailers and banks in pulling out of traditional high street shopping.

John Lewis, the department store chain, has announced plans to move into the residential property market by building 10,000 homes for rental over the next few years.

A number of documents and guidance notes have been published to help those seeking to apply for the government's £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund, announced at the Spending Review earlier this year.

Independent community news publisher West Leeds Dispatch has been given a huge boost after its bid for National Lottery funding was successful.

A three-year public engagement programme focussed on conservation work has been unveiled by English Heritage and civil engineering firm Sir Robert McAlpine.

An evaluation of the Cultural Destinations Fund’s second phase has been published, looking back at a £4.2 million initiative delivered by Arts Council England and VisitEngland between April 2017 and January 2021

A new ‘Civic Dollars’ mobile phone app, developed with support from Belfast City Council and the Northern Ireland Department of Justice means that people can now earn rewards for the time they spend in their local parks and open spaces.

The government has announced a Tourism Recovery Plan to help the sector bounce back from the pandemic. It aims to restore domestic tourism activity to pre-pandemic levels by 2022, and international tourism by 2023.

The government has made a further announcement of funding allocations under the Towns Fund for 30 towns in England, intended to boost their local economies, create jobs and help them build back from the pandemic.

A minister at MHCLG has approved a US venture capitalist's plans to redevelop the grade II* listed 500-year-old bell foundry in Whitechapel, east London, though the housing secretary has indicated that he is wants a review into how 'PINS and planning policy considers and defends heritage'.

A further 57 English high streets are to receive a share of government funding to improve transport links, build new homes and transform underused spaces, bringing to 72 the number which will share over £830 million to help them reopen and recover from the pandemic.

The 14 testbed local authorities for the new national design code to ensure areas are beautiful, well-designed and locally-led, have been selected from around England.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has produced guidance for those cities, areas or places that wish to express their interest in bidding for the title of UK City of Culture 2025.

Despite, unlike Sheffield, not succeeding in a referendum on the future governance of Newham, the borough's voters have been promised a much more listening council and neighbourhood citizen assemblies by the mayor Rokhsana Fiaz, who is regarded as a keen supporter of participatory government.

Historic England has announced (19th May) that over 60 High Streets Heritage Action Zones (HSHAZ) will receive grants totalling £6 million, under which local arts organisations will create and deliver community-led cultural activities on their high streets over the next three years.

As well as their programme of grant-funded cultural activity taking place on high streets over the next three years, Historic England is also curating a programme of cultural commissions this summer. Two schemes involve 'High Street Sound Walks' and 'Twin Towns'

There were significant achievements for activists seeking more democratic control over their areas in the results of the major set of local elections that took place on May 6th. Notable victories came in the Sheffield governance referendum, and the new town council created in Bexhill

One of Leeds Labour city councillors has announced he is quitting the party, and will campaign for a committee governance system to be introduced for that council.

Civic activists from across England & Wales gathered online to hear leading practitioners and campaigners share their experience and wisdom and see the principles unveiled.

Local civic activists in Hastings have been outraged at the sale this week of a historic shopping arcade in the town by a Trust that was set up over 90 years ago to benefit the townspeople.