Levelling Up Bill aims to give local councils power
THE Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill should give more powers to local councils in Devon and Cornwall to set up housing policies – including a crackdown on second homes – that help to reduce homelessness.
However, the Local Government Association warned yesterday that the measures would only work if the funds were made available to local authorities to implement the policies.
James Jamieson, chairman of the Local Government Association, said: “To deliver on levelling up ambitions and ensure councils can deliver the right types of homes in the right places with appropriate infrastructure, a local, plan-led system is integral.
“It is good to see that any new Infrastructure Levy will be set at a local level, and we want to work with government to ensure that it is a success and can deliver more affordable housing and infrastructure contributions at a local authority level than the existing systems for developer contributions.
“Empowering councils to bring vacant properties back into use is also an encouraging step. National permitted development rights, allowing conversion of offices, shops and restaurants into houses without the need to provide any affordable homes or infrastructure funding, also need to be removed so councils can ensure the right homes are built in the right places, and deliver on local ambitions to revive and reimagine our high streets and town centres.”
There was also interest from the South West in the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill. Charges levelled at old soldiers from the Westcountry for alleged crimes committed while they served with the Army in the Troubles have outraged many South West campaigners. Those on trial, including Cawsand’s Dennis Hutchings, who died last year during his trial for attempted murder in Belfast in 1974, have earned support from former veterans minister and Plymouth MP Johnny Mercer.
The Bill is described as being aimed at providing “better outcomes for victims, survivors and veterans.”