The Conservative Party is set to announce an extensive deregulation agenda aimed at stimulating economic growth and reducing the cost of living, particularly focusing on housing and environmental policies. At the upcoming party conference in Birmingham, Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch will outline plans that include scrapping major environmental agencies, repealing certain green regulations, and supporting infrastructure projects such as a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
Central to the proposed reforms is the abolition of the Environment Agency and Natural England, two of the UK’s largest environmental non-departmental public bodies, with a combined budget of approximately £2.7 billion. The government plans to transfer key functions of these agencies back to central government departments, arguing that this will streamline regulation and remove barriers to development. The Conservatives contend that rules implemented by these bodies, particularly Natural England’s “nutrient neutrality” requirements, have delayed the construction of up to 160,000 new homes.
The party also proposes scrapping the Future Homes Standard and other low-carbon building regulations set to take effect next year. These rules mandate the inclusion of technologies such as heat pumps or district heat networks in new developments to reduce carbon emissions. Conservative officials claim that removing these obligations could reduce the cost of new-build homes by as much as £50,000, promoting increased housing supply and affordability. This comes alongside a policy to abolish stamp duty on main home purchases, a move already supported by the party.
Badenoch and Griffith will further pledge to repeal Labour’s Employment Rights Act, which the Conservatives argue imposes a roughly £1 billion annual cost on businesses. They also intend to eliminate the Extended Producer Responsibility packaging tax, a £1.5 billion levy on manufacturers designed to cover recycling costs. These measures, the party says, will ease the financial burden on businesses, reduce consumer prices, and foster economic expansion.
Additionally, the Conservatives reaffirm their support for building a third runway at Heathrow—an infrastructure project that has faced political uncertainty. Griffith described this commitment as essential to unlocking growth and tackling what he called Britain’s “doom loop” of sluggish economic performance.
Other policy proposals include reforming childcare subsidies by extending 30 hours of free childcare per week to all parents working at least 16 hours, potentially costing £700 million annually. The party also plans to tighten student loan eligibility for non-UK citizens, estimating savings of around £900 million.
Critics of the Conservative approach warn that removing environmental protections and deregulating building standards could undermine climate commitments and long-term sustainability. Supporters argue that the current regulatory framework stifles economic development and that these reforms are necessary to boost the housing market and reduce inflationary pressures.
The Conservative leadership frames the agenda as the most ambitious deregulatory effort in a generation, drawing parallels to Margaret Thatcher’s era of rolling back the state’s influence. Badenoch emphasized that the party’s focus is not only on reversing economic decline but also on reshaping government’s role to foster individual choice and business growth. The proposals form a core part of the party’s message at the conference as it seeks to present a distinct economic vision ahead of future elections.