Catalogue description Records created or inherited by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), the Department for Communities and Local Governement (DCLG), the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) was created as a central department in its own right in May 2002, to bring together key responsibilities for regional and local government, fire, housing, planning and regeneration, social exclusion, and neighbourhood renewal. The Office took on responsibility for policy areas from both the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) and the Cabinet Office, and also responsibility for transport issues not undertaken by the Department for Transport (DfT). From May 2006, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) was created as the successor department to the ODPM.

Department for Communities and Local Government

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) was created on 5 May 2006 to promote community cohesion and equality, as well as responsibility for housing, urban regeneration, planning and local government. It unites communities and Civil Renewal functions (previously undertaken by the Home Office), with responsibility for regeneration, neighbourhood renewal and local government (previously held by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister). The new department also brought together responsibility for equality policy, including policy on race, faith, gender and sexual orientation; these functions were previously split between several government departments.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (2018-2021)

The Department for Communities and Local Government was renamed the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHLCG) in January 2018. The ministry at this time was tasked with ensuring people throughout the country had access to affordable and high-quality housing; providing opportunities for all parts of the country to thrive economically and growing local economies; building integrated communities and supporting effective local government. It aimed to improve the housing market by driving up housing supply and home ownership. It was also tasked with supporting local government, local economies and the housing sector in preparing for the EU Exit.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government was renamed the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLHUC) in September 2021. The department had the objective of supporting communities across the country and to make them appealing places to live and work. It focused on investing in local areas to create jobs and drive growth, supporting community and faith groups, increasing housing, overseeing local government and overseeing planning and building safety. A key area was the department's Levelling Up policy which aimed to address geographical inequalities by giving everyone across the country equal opportunities and boosting living standards. The policy focused on addressing geographical inequality through increased productivity, new jobs, educational attainment, and economic growth, with an emphasis on using the economic power and potential of the private sector.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (2024-)

The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities reverted to its former name the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in July 2024. The ministry aims to increase housing targets through building and creating new towns, grow local economies, push for affordable housing and strengthen communities and local governments.