Queen’s Speech May 2022
The Queen’s Speech on 11th May officially reopened Parliament, with a proposed legislative programme that includes a Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which will be of clear importance to the economic development profession.
The bill will place a duty on Government to set a levelling up mission statement and then produce an annual report updating the country on the delivery of each of the Levelling Up missions. The bill also creates the provision to create new combined county authorities in support of any approved devolution deals.
There are also a number of proposed changes to the planning system (although the proposed Planning Bill has not come forwards and is unlikely to see the statue book any time soon). This includes a stronger approach to neighbourhood planning – including increased digitalisation of the planning system.
Other key planning and regeneration proposals include:
- A new approach to environmental assessment in the planning system
- Implementing a locally set, non-negotiable National Infrastructure Levy to invest in community infrastructure and affordable housing
- Standardising and simplifying the process for local plans with the development of a Spatial Development Strategy and a Supplementary Plan
- New powers for local authorities to force landlords to bring vacant properties back into use and make compulsory purchases where required
- The definition of a long-term empty home will change from two years to one year so Authorities have powers to charge up to double council tax rates for these homes. There is also scope to charge double council tax rates on second homes
Clearly the war in Ukraine, sharply rising living costs and inflation, reductions of up to a fifth of Civil Service headcount and the anaemic growth forecast by the Bank of England will probably undermine any attempts to ‘level up’ the UK. Indeed, the mantra of Levelling Up seemed to be replace by another economic soundbite in the house, “growing the economy to ease the burden”.
The proposals within the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill focus primarily on planning led and enabling approaches to regeneration, of which some will have a positive impact – but there is nothing additional on the demand side of the equation through Government investment or stimulating wider elements of demand (such as for housing – with housing targets seemingly much lower down the agenda) or the relocation of Government Departments identified in the White Paper.
CEDOS will keep a watching brief as the bill passes through Parliament.