LEPs could get formal role in planning process

Author: Colin Marrs, Planning Magazine - Dec 8, 2011

Local enterprise partnerships covering the UK's eight core cities outside London could become statutory consultees on planning applications under a menu of options revealed today by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg.

Clegg, speaking this morning in Leeds, outlined a list of measures which cities could be granted in an attempt to devolve powers away from Whitehall.

The document said that granting LEPs statutory consultee status for planning proposals could ensure "better strategic planning across cities and their LEP areas".

The document also opened the prospect of devolving non-planning consents to cities. Clegg said: "Cities are the engines of economic growth. Whitehall should not be like an overbearing parent, throwing money at cities but refusing to let them stand on their own two feet.

"So we will have a bonfire of Whitehall controls to empower our cities to go for growth."

He said that each city deal would be different, and not all cities would take all of the powers outlined in the document. The document also said that cities would be empowered to create local property companies to manage public sector assets.

A spokesman for the Cabinet Office confirmed that this could include former regional development agency assets held by housing and regeneration quango the Homes & Communities Agency.

Other powers which could be devolved include control over transport spending and commissioning. Cities could also be given one consolidated capital pot, rather than multiple funding streams from different departments.

Lizzie Crowley, researcher at think-tank the Work Foundation said that for the devolution agenda to be effective, all departments must sign up to the policy, which had been a problem in the past.

She said: "The previous government tried to devolve responsibilities to cities, but were in the end unwilling to give up real powers.

"City Deals represent an important first step towards allowing our cities to shape their own futures. But there is still some way to go."

The eight core cities are Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham, Manchester and Sheffield.

Unlocking growth in cities can be read here.

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