Levelling-up_and_Regeneration_Act_2023
Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023
United Kingdom legislation
The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023[1] (c. 55) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
The Act is said to "speed up the planning system, hold developers to account, cut bureaucracy, and encourage more councils to put in place plans to enable the building of new homes" by the Government.[2] This is said by the Government to transform town centres by "giving councils the powers to work directly with landlords to bring empty buildings back into use by local businesses and community groups, breathing life back into empty high streets".[3]
The Act was opposed to by a large amount of local government who said it would undermine regional and local leaders.[4] The Act also relaxed the blanket ban to onshore wind farms.[5] The Act introduced a requirement of planning permission for short term lets.[6] The latter was to reduce the scourge of second homes.[7]
The Act (amongst other things):
- introduced levelling-up missions.
- created a new form of devolved local government called a County Combined Authority.
- created new powers for Combined Authorities.
- allowed for the modification of titles of Mayors of new and existing combined authorities.
- introduced a new Infrastructure Levy, and altered existing Community Infrastructure Levy.
- gave the biggest shake up to the planning system in a significant time.
Certain parts of the Act came into force on Royal Assent. A large proportion of the Act came into force on 26 December 2023, being two months since the Act was passed.[8] Regulations have been made by the Secretary of State bringing the rest of the provisions into force which are staggered over the coming years.[9][10][11][12]