diff --git a/app/core/cookies.py b/app/core/cookies.py
index 27b92de..0dcca77 100644
--- a/app/core/cookies.py
+++ b/app/core/cookies.py
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
+import json
+import logging
+
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.http import HttpRequest, HttpResponse
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 def set_ga_cookie_policy(response: HttpResponse, preference: str) -> None:
     """Set Google Analytics (GA) policy.
@@ -8,9 +13,19 @@ def set_ga_cookie_policy(response: HttpResponse, preference: str) -> None:
     Sets the cookies that are required for Google Tag Manager (GTM) to
     function correctly.
     """
+
+    cookie_object = {
+        "essential": True,
+        "settings": True,
+        "usage": preference == "true",
+        "campaigns": False,
+    }
+
+    json_string_cookie_object = json.dumps(cookie_object)
+
     response.set_cookie(
         key=settings.COOKIE_ACCEPTED_GA_NAME,
-        value=preference,
+        value=json_string_cookie_object,
         max_age=365 * 24 * 60 * 60,
     )
     response.set_cookie(
@@ -26,4 +41,12 @@ def get_ga_cookie_preference(request: HttpRequest) -> str:
     Returns value of the GA cookie preference if it exists, otherwise
     returns "false".
     """
-    return request.COOKIES.get(settings.COOKIE_ACCEPTED_GA_NAME, "false")
+    cookie_object = request.COOKIES.get(settings.COOKIE_ACCEPTED_GA_NAME)
+    if cookie_object:
+        try:
+            cookie_value = json.loads(cookie_object)
+            return str(cookie_value.get("usage", False)).lower()
+        except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+            logger.error(f"Error parsing GA cookie: {e}")
+
+    return "false"
diff --git a/app/core/views.py b/app/core/views.py
index 25fa9e4..60c6ca5 100644
--- a/app/core/views.py
+++ b/app/core/views.py
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+import json
+import logging
+
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.http import HttpRequest, HttpResponse, HttpResponseRedirect
 from django.shortcuts import redirect, render
@@ -9,6 +12,8 @@
 from .forms import CookiePreferenceForm
 from .healthcheck import application_service_health
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 @require_http_methods(["GET"])
 def home(request: HttpRequest) -> HttpResponse:
@@ -118,6 +123,16 @@ def set_cookie_banner_preference(request) -> HttpResponseRedirect:
     query parameter. This parameter is used to display a confirmation message
     banner.
     """
+
+    cookie_object = request.COOKIES.get(settings.COOKIE_ACCEPTED_GA_NAME)
+    preference = "false"
+    if cookie_object:
+        try:
+            cookie_value = json.loads(cookie_object)
+            preference = str(cookie_value.get("usage", False)).lower()
+        except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+            logger.error(f"Error parsing GA cookie: {e}")
+
     preference = request.GET.get(settings.COOKIE_ACCEPTED_GA_NAME, "false")
     current_page = request.GET.get("current_page")
     if not url_has_allowed_host_and_scheme(
diff --git a/app/templates/cookie_banner.html b/app/templates/cookie_banner.html
index e40d1d3..ad8a99a 100644
--- a/app/templates/cookie_banner.html
+++ b/app/templates/cookie_banner.html
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ <h2 class="govuk-cookie-banner__heading govuk-heading-m">
       <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds">
         <div class="govuk-cookie-banner__content">
           <p class="govuk-body">You've {% if cookie_preference == 'true' %} accepted {% else %}
-            rejected {% endif %} additional cookies. You can <a class="govuk-link" href="/cookies">change your cookie
+            rejected {% endif %} additional cookies. You can <a class="govuk-link govuk-link--no-visited-state" href="/cookies">change your cookie
               settings</a> at any time.
           </p>
         </div>
diff --git a/fbr/settings.py b/fbr/settings.py
index c4f956b..2af8bef 100644
--- a/fbr/settings.py
+++ b/fbr/settings.py
@@ -113,7 +113,14 @@
 
 DATABASES: dict = {"default": {}}
 
-if DATABASE_URL := env("DATABASE_CREDENTIALS", default=None):
+if DATABASE_URL := env("DATABASE_URL", default=None):
+    # Use DATABASE_URL for local development if available in local.env
+    DATABASES["default"] = dj_database_url.parse(
+        DATABASE_URL,
+        engine="postgresql",
+    )
+    DATABASES["default"]["ENGINE"] = "django.db.backends.postgresql"
+elif DATABASE_URL := env("DATABASE_CREDENTIALS", default=None):
     DATABASES["default"] = dj_database_url.config(
         default=database_url_from_env("DATABASE_CREDENTIALS")
     )