Localism Bill granted Royal Assent

The Localism Bill received Royal Assent yesterday, Tuesday 15 November following eleven months of Parliamentary scrutiny meaning it has now passed into law as the Localism Act.

The Bill completed its passage through Parliament on Monday 7 November when the House of Commons voted to accept all the amendments made to the Bill during its passage through the House of Lords.

Councillor Chris Saint, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council says: “The Localism Act has the potential to lead to far-reaching changes to the planning system including tougher enforcement powers.  The legislation abolishes regional strategies, establishes new plan-making in the shape of neighbourhood plans, creates a new duty on neighbouring planning authorities to “cooperate" on issues which cross council boundaries and abolishes the Infrastructure Planning Commission.

“Communities will have many new opportunities to take over local assets and buildings and keep them part of local life."

“We look forward to the ministerial orders to help make a lot of this happen early in the New Year.  At the heart of this is the need for local communities to have the chance to express their own vision of the future of their community and the ability to influence where communities can help shape their locality."