Briefings and responses

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill acts upon long running asks from councils and the LGA for further devolution in England. We are pleased that the Government has proposed to speed up the process and make good on its commitment to offer all of England the opportunity to benefit from a devolution deal by 2030. It is also important that councils of all sizes are engaged in the devolution process.

Councils are extremely disappointed that the Government has removed Lords amendment 82, which would have enabled local planning authorities to set fees for planning applications at a level that covers the cost of processing them.

It is vital that new burdens funding is provided to councils to support the proactive work necessary to ensure compliance with the legislation. This will enable councils to ensure compliance through supporting freeholders to understand and comply with the new requirements, with financial penalties being used as a matter of last resort.

It is concerning that bill does not make non-discretionary provision for new burdens funding for lead enforcement authorities. It is vital that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) conducts a full assessment of the resources councils need to effectively administer the redress scheme and the costs of setting up a scheme. New burdens funding should then be allocated accordingly.

Local government can play a central role in meeting targets and the wider demand for housing.

Local authorities are responsible for preventing the most vulnerable migrants from falling into destitution and homelessness.

The Housing White Paper presents an important shift in the government’s housing strategy on a number of fronts.

Local government's ambition is much greater than the White Paper, which lacks substantive measures to support councils in enabling housing growth, and to build the genuinely affordable homes for those at the sharp end of the housing crisis.

We are calling on the Government to use the Budget to give councils the tools and powers they need to resume their historic role as major housebuilders of good, quality affordable homes for social rent, and to invest in homelessness prevention.

On Thursday 12 May, the Housing and Planning Act received Royal Assent.