The Localism Bill - Power to the People?

23 March 2011

Last year the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister set out the Coalition's programme of policies over the next five years to "rebuild the economy, unlock social mobility, mend the political system and give people the power to call the shots over the decisions that affect their lives.”

The Decentralisation and Localism Bill is the result of one such policy which will devolve greater powers to councils and neighbourhoods and give local communities control over housing and planning decisions. This is a major piece of legislation that would affect a wide range of existing housing, planning and local government legislation dating back decades in some cases.

The Bill will abolish Regional Spatial Strategies, return decision-making powers on housing and planning to local councils, provide a fast-track process for major infrastructure projects, give new powers to help save local facilities and services threatened with closure, and give communities the right to bid to take over local state-run services and create Local Enterprise Partnerships (to replace Regional Development Agencies) – joint local authority-business bodies brought forward by local authorities to promote local economic development.

In March, NAWIC held a joint event with likeminded organisations to hear perspectives on the impact of the Bill from a Government, Local Authority and Developer’s point of view. The speakers were:

Steve Quartermain – Chief Planner, Communities and Local Government

Waheed Nazir – Director of Regeneration and Planning at Birmingham City Council

Louise Brooke Smith – Director, Brooke Smith Planning

The event, which was very well attended by circa 60 plus, triggered some lively debate and there was some very positive feedback from the attendees.

Breakfast Briefing Invite