What is a Section 278 Agreement?

A Section 278 Agreement is a legal agreement between a developer and a highway authority to carry out highway works.

Identity Verification Required For UK Company Officers From 18 November 2025

From 18 November 2025, new legislation under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 will introduce mandatory identity verification for individuals involved in UK companies. This change is part of a wider effort to improve transparency, reduce fraud, and strengthen trust in the Companies House register.

Who Is Affected?

The new rules apply to:

New directors and people with significant control (PSCs) – verification is required before incorporation or appointment.
Existing directors and PSCs – must verify their identity in line with upcoming filing deadlines.
Members of a limited liability partnership (LLP) – both new and existing members must verify their identity.

This means that anyone setting up, running, owning or controlling a company in the UK will need to prove they are who they claim to be.

How to Verify Your Identity

The main route is to go directly to Companies House – using the new GOV.UK One Login service.

Alternatively, you can use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) – such as a solicitor, accountant, or company formation agent regulated for anti-money laundering purposes.

Once verified, individuals will receive a unique code to use across all company roles. This is typically a one-time process unless roles change.

Why This Matters

This is an important change and failure to comply will be a criminal offence. Individuals who do not verify their identity will not be able to:

Incorporate a company
File documents at Companies House
Act as a director, PSC, or LLP member

Additionally, Companies House will become the definitive corporate register, meaning companies will no longer need to maintain certain statutory registers internally.

What You Should Do Now

Prepare early: Identity verification has been available since April 2025.
Check your documentation: Ensure your ID is valid and accessible.
Review your company roles: Confirm who needs to verify and when.

Further Information
For more details, visit:

Need Help? At Wollens, our legal team is ready to assist you with identity verification, company filings, and compliance. If you have questions or need support, please get in touch with our corporate law specialists.

You can also complete an online enquiry form. One of the Wollens team will contact you as soon as they are available.