‘The Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill (“LURB”), currently before the House of Lords, aims to facilitate the government’s levelling-up agenda, which was set out in the ‘Levelling-Up the United Kingdom’ White Paper in 2022. At 222 clauses and 18 schedules, full consideration of the Bill (as amended in Committee, 24th May 2023) would require more than a blog post, but its legislative aims can be somewhat succinctly expressed. The Bill proposes a scheme of local government and planning reforms, each aimed at promoting regional growth and “levelling-up”. Part I sets out the scope of levelling-up, detailing the obligations of the government in determining a levelling-up agenda. Part II then proposes a series of reforms to local democracy, devolving governance powers further to county councils, and giving them greater control to determine regional projects. The theme of project infrastructure continues, with Parts III-V and VIII-IX of the Bill reforming planning law and establishing different support mechanisms for development, including an infrastructure levy and providing for development corporations. Alongside the planning provisions, Parts VI-VII reform Environmental Impact Assessments and Nutrient Pollution Standards, establishing a new framework for these environmental tests.’
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UK Constitutional Law Association, 28th June 2023
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
