Dronfield Online - June 2011

By Julian Rowden, a partner in commercial property at leading Sheffield solicitors, Taylor&Emmet LLP. Julian specialises in a range of commercial property matters including leases, development sites, funding arrangements, corporate support and sales. In this month’s column, he discusses the rise of ‘localism’ and what it actually means for us...

Have you heard of ‘localism’? It is the coalition’s new buzz word and although you may be unfamiliar with it at the moment, I bet it won’t be long before it crops up on Countdown!
  
Localism is predicted to form the cornerstone of the government’s policy for economic growth. It follows hot on the heels of Mr Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ but we are only just beginning to work out what it will look like in practice.
  
Following the abolition by the government of Regional Development Agencies, like our own Yorkshire Forward, much of their function is moving to Local Economic Partnerships (LEPs) instead. It is a policy promoted by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles and is, of course, something that featured in a planning green paper prior to the election.
  
As the realities of life in Downing Street bite, it is no surprise that a long hard look has been taken at pre-election ideas and they have been modified to address concerns not only from the Treasury, but also from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills who fear localism may threaten economic growth if too much control over planning and development is handed to individual neighbourhoods. They are worried we may adopt a ‘not in my backyard’ mentality.
  
However, it has now become clear that the government is concerned not to allow obstacles to get in the way of development and ministers are talking about new neighbourhood plans needing to focus on more development, rather than less. It seems likely that the Department for Communities and Local Government, as well as the Treasury, will push for changes to council finance systems, so that LEPs can promote economic activity and growth.
  
It is early days, but it will be important to ensure that businesses, as well as private individuals, have a say in the development of their community and the signs are that government has accepted this must be the case.
  
Local businesses must now use their power to lobby for the private sector’s interests to be given proper weight by the LEPs when decisions are made.