England's National Blue Plaque Scheme and the Greater London scheme will both accept plaques for people connected to buildings that have been substantially altered or replaced, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport announced. Previously, sites had to survive largely intact, which excluded figures linked to demolished terraced houses, former factories and lost music and performance venues. The change was announced by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, whose department said it aims to widen the range of people, places and stories represented.

Eligibility rules remain: a person must have made a significant contribution to human welfare or happiness, or an exceptional contribution to their field, and must have been dead for at least 20 years. Groups must have formed at least 20 years ago and no longer be functioning. Historic England, which runs the national scheme on the department's behalf, received £100,000 this year to support the programme and grants for community groups. The London scheme, run by English Heritage, will adopt the updated criteria for this nomination round.

Nominations for both schemes are open until 13 January 2027, and plaques from these nominations will be unveiled in 2027. Launched in 2023, the national scheme has placed twelve plaques, from Plymouth to Liverpool, including ones for NHS matron Daphne Steele, Beatles guitarist George Harrison and Reverend Wilbert Awdry.