The UK Localism Bill

18 April 2011

The Localism Bill will have a profound impact on the workings of the planning process and on the way developers set out to achieve planning approval

The idea of the "Big Society" is a key policy the UK coalition Government have targeted since last years election. A significant aspect of this which should come in to effect in the latter part of 2011 is the Localism Bill. The aim of the bill focuses on the decentralisation of the planning process which will give the local community unprecedented influence over the approval, or otherwise, of new developments.

A crucial feature of the bill will create a neighbourhood democracy for each new development which will have the power to veto excessive council tax rises, bid to save assets of community value and the right to challenge new developments through referendum. A challenge can be brought about through only 5% of the local electorate requiring a referendum whereby the majority decision is carried.

Increased pre-application consultation with local communities will not only be highly beneficial but will be crucial for all future developments in order to minimise road blocks in the planning process. Developers will increasingly have to consider committing resources to demonstrate community support. It will be important to present plans in a simplified way that will be capable of being understood by the local community.

Another element of the bill offers the local community a right to purchase public and private assets when up for sale. This may offer competition to the conglomerates and major land purchasers who previously acquired land with little opposition. It is questionable however whether communities would be able to fund major land purchases without third party assistance.

The Bill will certainly have a huge impact on the working of the planning process. Whilst it certainly throws another obstacle into the planning process mix it also offers the potential for innovative and more community acceptable solutions by handing such significant power over local development to local communities.