Planning News London June 2015 New Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill Chancellor George Osborne announced in mid-May that the Queen’s Speech would include the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill (see explanatory notes), to “enable a radical new model” of city government. The Bill, now introduced in Parliament, will see central government hand power from the centre to cities across the country. In London, this is expected to be through the strengthening of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), Enterprise Zones and mayoral development orders. In conjunction with these moves, the Chancellor intends to encourage the adoption of a mayoral model of governance - as seen in London and Manchester - elsewhere in the country. This is with the explicit intention of building other cities up and, “…not to pull London down”. The Chancellor’s ‘long term economic plan for London’, as announced in February this year, provided further detail on how an increase in mayoral responsibility would be delivered, again linking the devolution of power in London to a wider, national, programme. Housing Bill: Right to Build, Right to Buy, and ‘Streamlining’ Neighbourhood planning The Housing Bill, also included in the Queen’s Speech, will include extending the Right to Buy. Earlier in May, the London Assembly passed a motion calling on the Mayor to, “commission an assessment of the implications of extending Right to Buy to Housing Association tenants and present the evidence to the Housing Committee for scrutiny”. Proposed minor amendments to FALP on housing and parking standards Boris publishes Social Infrastructure Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) The Mayor of London has published the GLA‘s Social Infrastructure SPG, to help engagement in development or planmaking, and aid understanding of the quantity and types of social infrastructure needed to support growth in London. The new guidance adds to the GLA’s long list of SPG publications issued to date; forming part of the ‘Shaping Neighbourhoods’ portfolio of SPGs (comprising ‘Character and Context’, ‘Play and Informal Recreation’ and ‘Accessible London: achieving an inclusive environment’). Public housing viability studies proposed by Royal Borough of Greenwich Until 22 June, Greenwich Council is consulting on a draft local list of requirements for validating planning applications, which includes a “landmark council planning policy” requirement that developers “will have to provide a fully public viability study for residential developments that are proposing less than 35 per cent affordable homes”. This follows a ruling last year at a Tribunal that it was in the public interest to make less commercially sensitive information in a viability assessment publically available. RB Greenwich believes it is the first (LPA) to take this proposed approach. If adopted, the requirement will be significant for many residential developers in Greenwich, given that the average affordable housing contribution is less than 35 per cent, and the revised validation list – if introduced could see other authorities follow suit. Quote of the month: “ “We welcome the Chancellor’s focus on devolving powers to cities. The government needs to continue to work with the Mayor of London to ensure the capital has the powers it needs – particularly over housing and transport” “ Headline news alterations to the London Plan 2015 that cover standards for housing and parking. The draft minor alterations have been prepared to bring the London Plan in line with new national housing standards and car parking policy. John Dickie of London First responds to the Chancellor’s speech on city devolution One London Together: Tessa Jowell pledges new agency to build homes for Londoners Tessa Jowell has launched her campaign for election as London Mayor, speaking of creating “One London” using measures such as a new housing agency that would be based on the ‘delivery partner’ model used to build the Olympic Park. She said: “I will establish Homes for Londoners – a housing equivalent of Transport for London – led by a home’s commissioner. It will act as a developer for homes that are either built with subsidy or on public sector land.” The GLA has announced two 6 week public consultations, closing on 22 June, on minor Contact Us Margaret Baddeley Jennie Baker [email protected] T: 020 7837 4477 [email protected] T: 020 7837 4477 Planning 2011-2014 Consultancy of the Year nlpplanning.com This publication has been written in general terms and cannot be relied on to cover specific situations. We recommend that you obtain professional advice before acting or refraining from acting on any of the contents of this publication. NLP accepts no duty of care or liability for any loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of any material in this publication.Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners is the trading name of Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Limited. 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