Queen’s speech: planning reforms to be tackled via Levelling up Bill
This year’s Queen’s Speech has outlined several legislative changes and the overhauling of laws around levelling up, planning and economic crime that could affect conveyancers.
At the state opening of Parliament last week, Prince Charles delivered the Queen’s speech as the monarch missed the opening for the first time in almost 60 years as she continues to experience “mobility problems”.
On 16 May 2022 Today’s Conveyancer summarised some of the 38 areas of focus that will be relevant to those in the conveyancing industry, including:
- Levelling up and Regeneration Bill
- Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill
- Non-Domestic Rating Bill
- Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill
Senior Associate, Jonathan Allen, commented on Planning Reforms as follows:
“In summary… underwhelming.
Despite fanfare on wholesale reform of the planning system, pushback from backbenchers means that most major proposals have either been removed entirely or lack detail to such a level as to be meaningless.
A prime example are the proposals on a national infrastructure levy. Beyond setting out that the levy will be ‘locally set’ and ‘non-negotiable’, there is no suggestion that the government has an answer to the difficult questions of how such a scheme would work in practice.
For example, how will a standardised levy make development viable in economically deprived or brownfield sites? How will it fairly assess the increased infrastructure needs of larger sites? Or the complicated needs of city centre developments? How will it secure affordable housing and local allocation rights? How will it deal with viability issues on stalled sites?
Everybody knows the s.106 process can be infuriatingly slow for developers, but the truth is that successive governments have failed to come up with a suitable alternative replacement. They don’t seem to have the answer yet.
At the same time, they have failed to deal with the fundamental issue of local planning authorities resourcing issues. Until this is addressed, the reality is timescales for decisions are only likely to go one way.”
Related expertise
You may be interested in...
Press Release
Spring Budget 2024: Browne Jacobson reaction
Legal Update
COP28 – key outcomes agreed and what they mean for you
Legal Update
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG): Are we ready for it?
Legal Update
The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023
Legal Update
Countdown to Biodiversity Net Gain
Legal Update
Wales Infrastructure Bill: Unified process for significant infrastructure projects?
Press Release
Browne Jacobson advising the Welsh Government on the delivery of significant number of renewable energy projects
Legal Update
The importance of three magic words
Legal Update
Back in the (Investment) Zone… sort of
Legal Update
Solar panel projects for higher education institutions
Legal Update
Understanding the obligations and implications for open space land and development
Opinion
Biodiversity Net Gain - Government publishes its metric consultation response & Natural England publishes their update biodiversity metric 4.0
Legal Update
Section 106 Agreements: I’m not dead yet
Press Release
UK and Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson joins UKREiiF 2023
Legal Update
Biodiversity Net Gain — Government publishes consultation response
Press Release
Browne Jacobson’s real estate specialists advise Chesterfield Borough Council on prestigious new development - One Waterside Place
Published Article
What are freeports and what benefits could they offer?
Legal Update
Biodiversity Net Gain: positive for nature and an opportunity for landowners
Legal Update
Hillside – the end of drop in applications?
On 2 November 2022, the Supreme Court handed down its judgment in the much awaiting case of Hillside Parks Ltd v Snowdonia National Park Authority [2022] UKSC 30. The Court’s judgment suggests that the long established practice of using drop-in applications is in fact much more restricted than previously thought. This judgment therefore has significant implications for both the developers and local planning authorities.
Legal Update
Investment Zones - getting the country working, building and growing
Investment zones have been introduced by the Conservative party to get the United Kingdom (UK) ‘working, building and growing’. They are to be designated sites which provide time-limited tax incentives, streamlined planning rules and wider support for local growth to encourage investment and accelerate the development of housing and infrastructure that the UK needs to drive economic growth. Processes and requirements that slow down development will be stripped back with the intention of attracting new investment.
Legal Update
Improving the performance of the NSIP planning process and supporting local authorities
Legal Update
Regeneration funding: Securing Compulsory Purchase Orders in the face of escalating building costs
The focus on the Levelling Up agenda and the availability of grant funding, means there are numerous important regeneration schemes actively being pursued across the country. With ever-escalating project and building costs, in many cases, applications that were made for grant funding were based on costs contingencies that have already been exceeded.
Legal Update
Conservation Covenants – what are they and how will they affect you?
Guide - Building Safety Act
How will the Building Safety Act 2022 impact buildings completed before the Act comes into force?
Guide - Building Safety Act
How will the Building Safety Act 2022 impact on the design and construction of buildings commenced after the Act comes into force?
Guide - Building Safety Act
How will the Building Safety Act 2022 impact on the ownership and occupation of higher-risk buildings?
Legal Update
Balancing homelessness duties and housing stock: all change?
On 4 May 2022, the Court of Appeal handed down judgment in the joint case of R (Elkundi and others) -v- Birmingham City Council and R (Imam) -v- London Borough of Croydon [2022] EWCA Civ 601.
Published Article
Queen’s speech: planning reforms to be tackled via Levelling up Bill
Legal Update
Is this the end of Section 106?
The Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill was introduced to Parliament on 11 May 2022. In this Bill, and in accordance with earlier reports, the government intends to replace section 106 agreements and the existing Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) with a new Infrastructure Levy.
Legal Update
Modernising the planning system
Improvement to the planning system has arrived in the form of new digital tools which will make it easier for the general public to have their say on shaping and regenerating their communities.
On-Demand
Private Sector Development Club - 18 January 2022
We welcome you back after the festive break to our first Private Sector Development Club of the year. Join us on-demand for four high level presentations with a chance for you to ask questions to our experts.
Published Article
Post COP26 – where now for local government and net zero?
Laura Hughes sets out the key points for local authorities following the conclusion of COP26 in Glasgow.
On-Demand
Private sector development club - 3 February 2021
Catch up on our Private Sector Development Club on-demand video where we covered a variety of topics including managing construction projects during a global pandemic, tax and planning.
On-Demand
Private sector development club - 9 November 2020
Watch our on-demand video about our private sector development club, where we will be discussing, planning updates, permitted development and negotiating development agreements.
On-Demand
Private sector development club - 18 August 2020
Watch our first virtual private sector development club, where we guide you through a variety of topics relevant to property development, including updates on leasehold reform and planning law, plus a guide through the negotiation of promotion and option agreements.