Elected mayors are set to wield new powers over housing and planning under a government shake-up of local government.

The move is proposed in a new white paper for the devolution of authority from Whitehall to local communities announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner.

She aims to give regional mayors more powers over housing, transport, education and employment as well as planning.

The proposals in the white paper, titled ‘Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth’, also include the merger of areas where there are currently two tiers of local authority to create unitary authorities and the creation of strategic authorities across England.

Some combined authorities already have elected local mayors and others would be created in the new strategic authority areas.

Under the reforms, mayors would have the ability to over-ride local planning decisions and call in planning applications of strategic importance.  They will also be able to charge developers a mayoral levy for necessary infrastructure.

The government also aims to forge a ‘stronger partnership’ between Homes England and established mayoral strategic authorities.

All council areas, whether part of a strategic authority or not, will be required to develop ‘high-level’ cross-boundary spatial development strategies apportioning housing targets across local areas by the end of the government’s first parliamentary term.

Any reforms which make the planning process more efficient and remove barriers to development are welcome but they need to be carefully thought through and ensure that ultimately they meet their aims and result in more costs or delays.

Please contact us to find out more about how these plans will affect your project or plans.

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