The Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, which should speed up the planning system, hold developers to account, cut bureaucracy, and encourage more councils to create plans that enable the building of new homes, has come into force.
The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act is at the heart of the government’s long-term plan to deliver 1 million homes – particularly in urban areas as to not concrete over the countryside – over this parliament and will also deliver further measures to support regeneration in left-behind communities.
Measures in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act will:
- Make it easier to put local plans in place and require design codes that set out where homes will be built and how they will look.
- Require developers to deliver vital infrastructure which will – says the government – put an end to lifeless edge-of-town developments with no community assets and ensure developers deliver the schools, doctors’ surgeries and public services communities need and expect.
- Give local councils the power to increase council tax on empty homes and reforme compensation for compulsory purchase orders by removing ‘hope value’ where justified.
- Give communities updates on the progress of development and give councils the chance to consider slow build-out rates when approving planning.
- Give councils the powers to work directly with landlords to bring empty buildings back in to use by local businesses and community groups through high street rental auctions. It will also make it faster for local authorities to give hospitality businesses permission to use outdoor seating.
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove said: “Our landmark Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act will deliver more homes for communities across the country and unleash levelling up in left-behind places.
“It will deliver revitalised high streets and town centres. A faster and less bureaucratic planning system with developers held to account. More beautiful homes built alongside GP surgeries, schools and transport links, and environmental enhancement. Communities taking back control of their future with new powers to shape their local area. And our long-term levelling up missions enshrined in law.”
