Localism in London

Future of London DEVELOPMENT & RENEWAL 10 May 2011

Delivering Localism

Localism Bill Mark Lee & Peter Fenn

Agenda

 An brief overview of the bill  The main sections and key measures:  Local government  Community empowerment  Planning  Housing  London  Interrelationships between different parts  The timetable for the bill

Decentralisation and localism at the heart of the coalition “We believe that if you decentralise power, you get better results and better value for money. So… an unprecedented redistribution of power and control from the central to the local, from politicians and the bureaucracy to individuals, families and neighbourhoods.”

(Conservative manifesto)

“Liberal Democrats believe local people know best about how things should be done in their area. We will radically decentralise politics so that local people have the powers and the funding to deliver what they want for their communities.”

(Liberal Democrat manifesto)

“… a radical redistribution of power away from Westminster and Whitehall to councils, communities and homes across the nation... …we want people to call the shots over the decisions that affect their lives.” “…create a Big Society matched by big citizens… to completely recast the relationship between people and the state: citizens empowered; individual opportunity extended; communities coming together to make lives better.”

(The Coalition Programme for Government)

Localism, Decentralisation, Big Society

Localism is the ethos – doing everything at the lowest possible level and only involving central government if absolutely necessary.

Decentralisation is what we do – giving away power to individuals, professionals, communities and local institutions.

Big Society is what we’re trying to achieve – A society where people, neighbourhoods and communities have more power and responsibility and use it to create better services and outcomes.

The Bill in numbers

• 207 clauses and 24 schedules • adding up to 407 pages of bill • legislating for over 40 different policies • which deliver 20 Coalition Agreement commitments • backed up by 32 Impact Assessments • produced by 31 teams from 18 divisions in DCLG (plus Defra and WAG) • and a team of 6 parliamentary counsel

The localism bill Made up of a number of interlinked policy themes with at least 40 policy areas

Local Government

Community Empowerment

Housing

Planning

London

Non-planning measures

Number of measures that have attracted attention from those with an interest in planning which are not planning measures per se:  Pre determination  Referendums  Assets of community value  General power of competence

Part 5: Planning

Context - NPPF, fees etc.

The bill contains includes changes to national, regional and local planning: • National – the abolition of the IPC regime for nationally significant infrastructure projects • Larger than local – the abolition of RSs and the new duty to cooperate Continued…

Part 5: Planning continued…

• Local – localising plan-making, improving pre-app consultation & strengthening enforcement.

• Neighbourhood level – CIL, neighbourhood planning, Community Right to Build.

Neighbourhood planning

The key reform is neighbourhood planning and community right to build: • Local communities will be able to take forward “neighbourhood plans” • These will be able to permit development without the need for planning applications.

• This will give local people the opportunity to shape the places that they live in - and increase speed and certainty of planning

Future of London DEVELOPMENT & RENEWAL 10 May 2011

Delivering Localism

Neighbourhood Planning in Central London: Challenges and Opportunities Simon Bevan Interim Head of Planning and Transport

Photo of Shard

Southwark’s Neighbourhoods

London Bridge/Bankside Opportunity Area • Employment capacity • Minimum new homes

30,000 2,500

• Parts of this area may accommodate tall landmark mixed use developments • Hotel development could contribute significantly to delivering tourism objectives London Plan

Challenges • Fragmented community interspersed with major commercial areas • Wide variations in income levels and other socioeconomic characteristics • High population turnover • Reconciling needs of community with strategic and commercial needs • Setting boundaries

Where will new housing go?

• • • • • • •

No greenfield sites No straightforward brownfield sites Redevelopment of currently occupied sites Small complicated infill Hidden homes EVERYWHERE No scope for neighbourhood development orders

History of localism in Southwark • 1980s pressure for suburban development in central London • 2000s Aylesbury Area Action Plan prepared with full support of residents • Redevelopment of much of the area at higher densities • Long years working with the community to raise understanding of real options and viability

Opportunities • Benchmarks and indicators of sustainability to inform development • Detailed understanding of community’s needs and aspirations • Evidence to support s.106 and CIL • Community cohesion and empowerment

Bermondsey Neighbourhood Forum

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Future of London DEVELOPMENT & RENEWAL 10 May 2011

Delivering Localism

Localism in Planning: Hackbridge Project & The Big Society

Darren Richards, Executive Head of Planning and Transportation LB Sutton

Big Society and Sutton -Overview

Aspirations: - generate greater involvement from more local people - give community a bigger say on the design and planning of their neighbourhood - recruit ‘place-shaping’ champions to build good practice - remove regulatory or bureaucratic barriers to developing a sustainable suburb

Project 1: Community inclusion/influence a)

Enhance Community Forum arrangements (inc. more community-led debates and projects)

b)

Develop a network of local co-ordinators and champions, share skills and increase volunteer numbers

c)

Expand electronic/social media 2-way engagement

PROJECT 2: Energy

PROJECT 3: River Restoration

a)

Deliver low carbon/ zero carbon energy network to new and existing developments

a)

Facilitate community development and management of River Wandle

b)

b)

Individual energy efficiency measures

Meet the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive

PROJECT 4: Connecting people with nature a)

Facilitate community development and and management of MOL

b)

Increase biodiversity in residents gardens

OUTCOMES: - Larger & more varied community involvement in Hackbridge Project - Engagement in and understanding of climate change and local management of assets - Community management of MOL - Community Management of River Wandle - Removal of barriers to delivering a decentralised energy network for the area

Hackbridge - A locally inspired project to develop a sustainable suburb 2001 2006

BedZed opens – first low carbon suburban village Hackbridge Project first suggested by residents

December 2009 LDF adopted designating Hackbridge as a Zero Carbon sustainable suburb LB Sutton adopts BioRegional’s One Planet principles Outline planning application submitted for the largest site, at Felnex

Governance

The elements of our approach to developing a sustainable suburb INFRASTRUCTURE

BEHAVIOUR

1500 new homes Community Hub (GP surgery, Supermarket,

Low Carbon Zone (including Eco Teams)

cafes, retail, community centre)

Decentralised Energy Network/MUSIS

Greening Businesses

Wandle Valley Regional Park

Pay-As-You-Save

River restoration

One Planet Food

Transport network

Smarter Travel Sutton Healthy Hackbridge

Active engagement at all levels………..

Development Sites, potential Energy Centre Sites & Distribution Network Potential links with Willow Ln Trading Estate

Schools

LBS Mill Green Estate Schools 150 units

Existing CHP site 100 units

Wandle Valley Trading Estate Houses 45 Flats 56 B1 5113m2

Landfill

Potential Energy Providers from waste management site operators

Durand Close Flats/Houses

BedZED

450

Station Site Flats Commercial B1

Corbett Close Flats/Houses

100

91 4140m2 5416m2

Hackbridge Road Flats

Kelvin House

40

Flats

Potential Energy Centre sites

70

LOW CARBON ZONE Felnex

Potential distribution network

Restmore Way Trading Estate

Houses /Flats B1 GP Surgery Community Retail Shell

790 16,810m2 800m2 549m2 3246m2

Felnex Estate

River Wandle

River Wandle and Wilderness

Terraced Housing in Hackbridge

Hackbridge Local Centre

For information about the Future of London Programme please visit our website: www.futureoflondon.org.uk

Next Seminar: 9 June 2011 Engaging the private sector to secure development and renewal in London