UK housing and food regulation reports highlight policy shifts

A report from the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) suggests that up to 4.6 million new homes could be constructed by releasing specific areas of the English green belt. The study, titled ‘The Future of the Green Belt’, utilized a spatial survey to identify low-quality or previously developed land located near existing railway infrastructure. The findings indicate that 33,000 hectares of unprotected low-quality agricultural land and 115,000 hectares of medium-quality land could support millions of homes if developed according to government density standards.

Separately, the UK government is reportedly moving to expand restrictions on the promotion of unhealthy foods. The proposed regulations aim to update the existing 2004 nutrient profiling model with a 2018 model that distinguishes between free and intrinsic sugars. This change would likely bar products with high added sugar content, such as certain yogurts, from multibuy deals or aisle-end promotions. Critics argue the move could increase compliance costs for manufacturers and contribute to food price inflation during a period of economic volatility.