Government releases Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill draft

As teased in the Queen’s Speech, all 338 pages of Michael Gove’s proposed flagship legislation have now been published.

Concerns over the bill’s contents had been raised by property leaders yesterday, with some stating that it did not go far enough to fix the inequity among the regions in the country. Others were cautious over new powers for local authorities to force landlords into filling vacant high street shops.

• READ MORE: Levelling Up Bill meets mixed reaction

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill is divided into 11 parts:

• levelling up missions
• local democracy and devolution
• planning
• infrastructure levy
• environmental outcomes reports
• development corporations
• compulsory purchase
• letting by local authorities of vacant high street premises
• information about interests and dealings in land
• miscellaneous
• general

To save our readers time, you’ll find the section on changes to planning begins on page 75, including the requirement to assist with plan-making on page 90.

The infrastructure levy section begins on page 113.

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the bill, the increased powers for local authorities when it comes to vacant high street sites, can be found starting on page 150.

Read the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

The bill is currently undergoing its second reading, which means changes could still be made. After completing its second reading, it will enter the committee stage. There will still be two more phases to complete before it can enter the House of Lords for another three readings.