The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology launched GDS Local on 22 November 2025, a dedicated unit designed to narrow the gap between central and local government digital services. The initiative aims to make routine interactions-from council tax to school admissions-simpler and faster by combining central capability with local delivery, according to the Government Digital Service.
A central element is single sign-on. Councils will be supported to enable residents to use GOV.UK One Login and the GOV.UK App across both national and local services through one account. DSIT positions this as a route to consistent access regardless of postcode, while maintaining local control over individual services and eligibility rules.
Procurement is a second focus. DSIT describes the need to move away from lengthy single‑supplier contracts that limit switching and keep costs elevated, towards a more competitive market built on open standards and modular systems. The stated outcome is greater choice and control over technology budgets, with easier exit routes and reduced dependence on bespoke, outdated platforms.
Data is the third strand. GDS Local will help councils share anonymised datasets-covering, for example, homelessness trends and service demand-via the Government Digital and Data Hub. The department says this will support sector-wide learning and faster scaling of effective solutions, while maintaining strict privacy protections and clear governance.
The Government Digital and Data Hub goes live alongside the new unit. It is described as a single platform for digital and data professionals across central government, local authorities, the NHS and other public bodies to access training, career guidance, events and practical resources that build capability across the public sector workforce.
The launch sits within the government’s blueprint for modern digital government and responds to the State of Digital Government Review. Ministers connect the programme to a wider productivity agenda, citing an ambition to realise up to £45 billion of benefits each year across the public sector. DSIT notes the unit’s design followed engagement with more than 300 local digital leaders.
Minister for Digital Government Ian Murray said the move is intended to end the postcode lottery for online services, arguing residents should expect modern, joined-up access wherever they live. He framed the new unit as a means of making government work more seamlessly for users of local services.
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has acted as an early partner, offering a testbed for central–local collaboration. Local leaders pointed to the Community Charter on Data and AI, the AI for Good programme and the Civic Data Cooperative as examples of resident-led governance and practical projects aimed at improving outcomes in areas such as healthcare and misinformation.
Sector bodies have also indicated support. Councillor Dan Swords, chair of the Local Government Association’s Public Service Reform and Innovation Committee, welcomed a team dedicated to local government’s digital challenges and highlighted the opportunity to accelerate reform alongside the ministry responsible for housing and communities, referred to by DSIT as MHCLG.
Delivery activity begins with a local government Innovation Hackathon in Birmingham on 26–27 November. GDS will convene councils, technologists and designers to produce workable ideas on homelessness and rough sleeping that can be prototyped and, if effective, scaled.
For councils, near-term priorities include assessing readiness to integrate GOV.UK One Login, mapping legacy contracts and future procurement pipelines to open standards, and reviewing governance for the publication and reuse of anonymised data. For suppliers, the signal is a shift towards interoperability, shorter terms and clearer exit arrangements.
For residents, no immediate change is expected. DSIT’s wording-working with councils so that residents could eventually use One Login-indicates phased onboarding rather than a single switch. Progress will be visible in the number of services enabled, councils integrated and datasets shared through the new Hub over the coming months.