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.

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.

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.

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

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

A podcast and accompanying book called High Street Tales have been released as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zones Cultural Programme, which is led by Historic England

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced 34 community projects which will be receiving grants worth almost £700,000 through his Grow Back Greener Fund with a focus on areas of deprivation where residents are less likely to have access to green space.

A crowdfunder campaign has been launched this week to help raise cash to turn a 130-year-old Dutch barge in Ramsgate harbour into a waterfront community arts hub

The government is inviting expressions of interest from local authorities keen to have financial support to help communities identify their most valued historic buildings and heritage assets and to work up projects for them to be protected through the planning system