Localism Bill Receives Royal Assent

Date: 16/11/2011

The Localism Bill has today received Royal Assent. DCLG says that the Act "will trigger the biggest transfer of power in a generation". 

John Silvester, Spokesperson for the Planning Officers Society, said "We will have to wait and see whether neighbourhood planning will become as widespread or as simple and concise as Ministers predict." 

The DCLG Plain English Guide to the Localism Act describes the main measures under four headings:

• new freedoms and flexibilities for local government
• new rights and powers for communities and individuals
• reform to make the planning system more democratic and more effective
• reform to ensure that decisions about housing are taken locally

The Society has created for its Members a web based resource on Neighbourhood Planning