The first property bill of Theresa May’s new government emerged this week in much diluted form.
The Neighbourhood Planning Bill, known previously as the Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill, was due to be released before parliament’s summer recess but was hit by the aftermath of the EU referendum.
Amendments include the strengthening of neighbourhood plans and new compulsory purchase powers, while the privatisation of the Land Registry and the creation of the National Infrastructure Commission were put on hold.
A second reading of the bill will take place on 10 October.
Here are the five things you need to know:
1. Changes to strengthen neighbourhood planning
The bill aims to give more weight to neighbourhood plans earlier in the planning process, to encourage community participation and ensure they have influence.
Even if plans have not been ratified, they are to be taken into account, giving them more weight. It will also make plans more flexible, allowing changes to existing plans, authorities to intervene more easily, and allows for sub-plans by communities within broader neighbourhood plans.
James Bainbridge, head of planning and development at Carter Jonas, said: “The majority of neighbourhood plans to date have focused on stopping development rather than promoting it.
“Neighbourhoods as they are defined often don’t have the ability to see the bigger picture to deliver the scale of infrastructure that is required.”
2. Streamlining compulsory purchase orders
CPO regulations will be simplified to be clearer, fairer and faster. The government said the process can currently be uncertain and complex.
Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said: “The measures to improve the CPO system are particularly important as they will help to bring about infrastructure projects more quickly and efficiently, which are crucial for attracting inward investment and acting as a catalyst for regeneration schemes.”
3. Consultation on pre-commencement planning conditions
Planning conditions requiring developers to take action before work starts will be used only when necessary, while still ensuring environmental and heritage safeguards.
A major bugbear of developers, the changes were minor, and will still require developers to sign up to pre-conditions to get planning.
David Jackson, head of planning at Savills, said: “Too often these serve to frustrate quick delivery and can, in effect, become mini-planning applications.
“By reducing them to only those that are absolutely essential, we can hopefully speed up the delivery of the development that is much needed.”
4. Land Registry privatisation put on hold
Proposals to privatise the Land Registry were also frozen. A petition against the privatisation had amassed more than 280,000 signatures by this summer.
Richard Close, head of lease advisory at Daniel Watney, said: “The Land Registry is successful, popular and trusted; privatising it would put that all at risk.
“It would have been an exercise in fixing something that wasn’t broken to start with.”
5. Removal of the National Infrastructure Commission
The setting up of a National Infrastructure Commission was dropped, though is unlikely to disappear completely as May has stressed the importance of infrastructure.
Its responsibilities are likely to be taken on by another department.
Johnny Caddick, co-managing director at Moda Living, said: “Crossrail in London has proven the ability of infrastructure projects to unlock new development.
“If the government is genuine in its commitment towards rebalancing the economy away from the South East, then infrastructure investment in the North and beyond must be a priority.”
• Bruce Mann, the executive director of the Government Property Unit, announced his retirement this week. Mann will step down in October, after being appointed four years ago. His deputy, Sherin Aminossehe, will act up until a successor is found.
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