Localism Bill

The Localism Bill keeps the Coalition's promise to hand power over planning to local communities and away from central and local government.

The Bill is high on principle with neighbourhoods creating their own plans and granting development consents. It is unsurprisingly low on the detail of how this is to be achieved practically and fairly.

The stated intention of this planning reform is to achieve more not less development. Whether it will or not may well turn on the willingness of communities and developers to open their minds to new ways of working; and the attractiveness of the financial incentives soon to be on offer. The Government has promised to match Council Tax value for every new home completed for six years - the New Homes Bonus - and local retention of business rates for new commercial development for six years too.

The way in which development is to be promoted in the future will undoubtedly change. In some areas partnerships between neighbourhood, a development provider and local authority may hit the mark and work for the benefit of all. This cannot however be relied upon as communities are much more used to saying no and we will need to backstop mechanisms if the country is to be housed and economic development delivered alongside essential infrastructure.

A start of promise but still much to be delivered.

Rob Lucas
Chief Executive
Turley Associates

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