Key Facts

• New clause 53 would require proposals for designation of locally-led urban development areas in England to be independently examined.
• The examination must determine if the proposal aligns with national planning policy and local development plans.
• Public representatives can request an opportunity to appear before and be heard by the examiner.
• Development corporations have successfully delivered large-scale developments in England since post-war new towns.
• The enabling legislation for development corporations needs updating due to varying powers and remits across different types.
• Subsection (4) outlines what local authorities must do before submitting a proposal to the Secretary of State.
• Local authorities will need to consult with local residents, businesses, MPs, and other local authorities prior to submission.
• The designation process is subject to negative procedure reflecting pre-existing democratic oversight.
• The New Towns Act 1946 established 32 new towns housing over 2.5 million people.
• Local authorities may designate urban development areas but have little incentive to do so without central government support.
• Clause 131 and clause 132 of the Bill allow designation without public inquiry or right for members of the public to be heard.
• New clause 54 seeks an independent examination of locally-led new town development corporations.
• The examination would determine if proposals are in line with national planning policy, local plans, and other considerations.
• Public consultation should occur before a proposal is submitted to the Secretary of State.
• Amendment 184 would ensure representation for local communities on development corporation boards.
• Local qualifying bodies include parish or town councils and neighbourhood forums.
• The amendments aim to provide robust governance arrangements for new locally led development corporations.
• Sheryll Murray is addressing Clauses 140-144 and Schedule 14 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill.
• The discussion centres around local authority acquisition for regeneration purposes.
• Local authorities in England have power to use compulsory purchase for regeneration purposes.
• Clause 140 aligns local authorities with other public authorities such as Homes England and the Greater London Authority.
• Clause 142 enables confirming authorities to decide on holding a public local inquiry or following a new representations procedure.
• Conditional confirmation allows decision makers to confirm CPOs subject to conditions being met before compulsory purchase powers are used.
• New clause 62 aims to reform the CAAD process in the Land Compensation Act 1961.
• The current rules allow landowners to claim hope value as part of their compensation.
• Certificates of appropriate alternative development (CAADs) establish planning certainty for valuation purposes.
• Local planning authorities are required to identify all developments when issuing a CAAD.
• The Bill aims to give local authorities clearer powers for compulsory purchase.
• Hope value inflates land costs, making social housebuilding and infrastructure provision unviable.
• The Government proposes changes to the Land Compensation Act 1961 to address hope value issues.
• Amendment 185 requires consultation with the local community before designation.
• Amendment 186 allows the local community to apply for designations under subsections (1) and (2).
• Amendment 195 defines 'the local community' as persons resident in the vicinity of premises.
• Data from the British Retail Consortium shows shopping centre vacancies at nearly 19% and high street vacancies at 14%.
• Online shopping has grown significantly, exacerbated by the pandemic.
• Weak consumer confidence and demand contribute to vacant shops and weak local economies.
• Amendment 185 requires consultation with local communities affected by the designation of town centres and high streets.
• Amendment 186 seeks to empower communities to initiate the designation process.
• Amendments 185 and 186 relate to local authority consultation before high street rental auction designations.
• Amendment 195 would define 'local community' in relation to these amendments.
• The Bill empowers local authorities based on the definitions of 'high street' and 'town centre' set out in clause 150.
• Amendment 187 aims to remove subsections (5) and (6) of clause 152.
• Amendment 192 targets subsection (5) in clause 160.
• Henry VIII powers allow the Secretary of State to amend regulations after the Bill's enactment.
• Clause 152 outlines the vacancy condition required for premises to qualify for high street rental auctions.
• The property must be unoccupied on the day and have either been vacant for a year or a total of 366 days in two years.
• Any regulations to amend the vacancy condition will be subject to the affirmative procedure.
• The amendment seeks to reduce the initial letting notice period from ten weeks to twenty-eight days.
• The current process includes a final letting notice period of fourteen weeks after the initial ten weeks if the property remains vacant.
• Properties must be vacant for at least one year or have had at least 366 days of vacancy in two years before being subject to this process.