The Executive Director for Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill, which had received its first reading in the House of Commons on 12 May 2022, following more than 40,000 responses being received to the Government’s 2020 White Paper ‘Planning for the Future’ and the subsequent inquiry into planning reform by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee.

The report gave a summary of the changes proposed in the Bill and the implications for the planning system generally and in Reading.  The report addressed the following areas: Development plans; Infrastructure delivery; Development management; Environmental outcomes reports; Heritage; Enforcement and Other matters.  It also set out the next steps, explaining that the Bill was expected to receive royal assent in 2024 and a number of consultations were planned on detailed elements of the Bill, further reports on which would be brought to the relevant committee setting out the Council’s response when these took place.

Resolved -    That the report be noted.