New bill promotes local voice

The new Sustainable Communities bill is likely to provide a boost for the small-scale, individual property developer, according to experts.

Local councils will be given more power over granting and implementing planning permission, which due to the Double Devolution idea, will be heavily influenced by the views of the local community.

Therefore while large-scale developments like supermarkets may be unpopular with locals and heavily opposed, self-builders or home renovators who add to the community may face far less problems.

Matthew Sheen, from campaign group Local Works, said: "In terms of housing development, it may well be easier to [build] smaller, individual, self build-type things, to encourage sustainable building."

He added that it is not set in stone how the bill will be but he predicts that it will not be anti-development and will give local communities a greater voice.

The bill is currently being considered by the government.


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