Localism Bill

The government's Localism Bill was published today and includes a raft of reforms to the way that the local government and planning systems work.  
 
John Bosworth, Partner and Head of Planning at Ashfords, said: "The Bill is making some major reforms to the national planning system, including abolishing the Infrastructure Planning Commission and doing away with the regional spatial strategies.  

"It is also proposing a number of sensible small scale reforms to the planning system.

"There is an obvious sense of justice behind the powers to allow planning authorities to take enforcement action against unauthorised development that has been concealed until the normal time limits have expired.  

"All too often planning committees have felt frustrated at their inability to take action against such development."