Developing AI policies that work for local government

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Artificial Intelligence, Local AI
An illustration of a council building with the words 'Developing AI policies that work for local government' written on it

AI has the potential to help councils improve services and work more efficiently. To realise those benefits responsibly, councils need clear governance, usually set by an organisation's AI policy. Find out how the Local AI team is working with councils to develop shared resources that provide a consistent baseline and avoid unnecessary duplication of effort.

Asset management funding to help councils strengthen their cyber resilience

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Local Digital

Local Digital is launching a new asset management support offer to help English councils and mayoral strategic authorities improve their asset management capabilities and strengthen their cyber resilience. This blog post shares how councils can apply for funding.

AI in Action: practical AI workshops for local government 

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Artificial Intelligence, Local AI
A graphic with the words 'One Big Thing 2026: AI in Action' written on it

One Big Thing is an annual Civil Service programme bringing civil servants together to focus on a shared area of learning. Its 2026 theme, ‘AI in Action’, is about putting AI into practice. This year, Local AI is making the One Big Thing workshop materials developed for colleagues in MHCLG available to local government teams.

Helping more people off the streets: how AI is improving StreetLink

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Artificial Intelligence, Local AI
Outreach teams supporting a person on the street

StreetLink helps members of the public share concerns about someone sleeping rough so that local outreach teams can respond. Find out about the transformative impact of a pilot project with local authorities, exploring whether AI technology could enhance the service in a practical, responsible and user-centred way.

Standardising construction product data to improve building safety

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Data, Design
A graph with the following fields: - material supply and manufacture - design and planning - procurement and construction - in-use - end of life

The Buildings, Design and Construction digital team in MHCLG is working with policy colleagues and stakeholders to explore ways to improve building safety outcomes. Learn how we’re using user research, mapping data flows and exploring common data standards to help make critical buildings safety information clearer, consistent and accessible, and how you can get involved.

Designing a digital CAF for local government service

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Cyber, Local Digital
A title card that says 'Designing a Digital CAF for Local Government Service'

Local Digital is building a digital Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) for local government service to make cyber resilience assessments easier to complete, manage and repeat. This blog provides an update on the development of LG WebCAF, shares an early prototype and invites councils to take part in the next phase of testing and development.

A faster start to local plan-making: introducing the 'Submit a site for a local plan' tool

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Digital Planning, PropTech
A mock-up of the Submit a site for the local plan tool, shown with the fictional Planhamshire Borough Council.

Local planning authorities (LPAs) can spend months handling inconsistent site submissions for their local plan. We have built a free tool to standardise how site information is submitted, helping authorities save time making their assessments, and contributing to faster plan-making. We're now looking for LPAs to help us test it.

Learning, growing and feeling valued as a developer

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Careers
Mohsina Ahmed Chowdhury portrait

MHCLG Digital has launched early-career opportunities for 5 Junior Developers to join our teams in Manchester. Mohsina, one of our developers, shares how support from colleagues has helped her build her skills and grow professionally since joining the department as a junior developer in 2024.

My journey from communications to delivery management

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Careers
Pippa Savill portrait

MHCLG Digital has launched early-career opportunities for 5 Associate Delivery Managers to join our teams in Manchester. Find out from Pippa, Senior Delivery Manager, what she has learnt since moving from communications to delivery management, including the valuable transferable skills she brought to her role and what it means to be a delivery manager.

ALIGN: a new national infrastructure spatial tool for evidence-based planning and growth decisions

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Data, Digital Planning
An illustrative map from the ALIGN tool.

ALIGN is a new national infrastructure spatial tool bringing together data, models and AI to identify local infrastructure needs and constraints. Supporting both central and local government, it will help assess whether existing infrastructure can support housing and local growth, and where additional investment may be needed.