Legislation was formally introduced to parliament on Thursday
Mayors across England will be given streamlined powers to speed up development of homes and infrastructure in their areas under new legislation put forward by the government.
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which was formally introduced to parliament yesterday (Thursday), will include a new power to institute Mayoral Development Orders, as well as a quicker process to establish mayoral development corporations.
It sets out a range of other enhancements to devolved and community powers, including a new requirement for local authorities to put in place “effective neighbourhood governance” to give residents more of a say in shaping their local areas.
Housing secretary Angela Rayner said: “We were elected on a promise of change, not just for a few areas cherry-picked by a Whitehall spreadsheet, but for the entire country.
“That’s why we are opting to devolve not dictate and delivering a Bill that will rebalance decade old divides and empower communities.
“We’re ushering in a new dawn of regional power and bringing decision making to a local level so that no single street or household is left behind and every community thrives from our Plan for Change.”
Paul Dolan, chief executive of housing association Riverside, warmly welcomed the bill, explaining that in his role he “repeatedly” saw “the need for more local decision-making powers and more funding to help councils and communities to build new homes, amenities and infrastructure.”.
“As an organisation, we have seen first-hand how regeneration projects improve the quality of homes, neighbourhoods and the health and economic prospects of their residents,” he said.
“The new devolution powers will help to unlock more urban and suburban regeneration projects across England while also increasing the supply of social and affordable homes which people desperately need.”
Under the provisions of the bill, mayors will be expected to develop “tailor made” local growth plans and new ‘strategic authorities’ will be created to “boost connectivity and collaboration” between councils, while a Local Audit Office will be established to monitor council spending.
Upward Only Rent Review clauses in commercial leases, which the government says pit landlords against business and make rent unaffordable, will be banned.
>>See also: Rayner to set out ‘devolution by default’ plan to give mayors more powers over development
British Property Federation chief executive Melanie Leech criticised this provision, describing it as “interference in long-established commercial leasing arrangements without any prior consultation or warning”.
She said it had “no place” in the bill and risked investor confidence “at a time when development viability is already seriously challenged”.
“Unfortunately, this is another example of a government getting mired in detailed market issues, rather than focusing on the big picture of enabling and empowering local public and private stakeholders, including property owners and their customers, to work together to drive economic growth and create thriving town centres,” she added.
The bill also includes a new community right to buy, which will give communities the first opportunity to purchase local assets when they are put up for sale, and a new ‘sporting’ category of local assets will protect local sports grounds.
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