King's Speech 2024: reaction from the sector

Bills detailing major planning reforms, proposals for standardised devolution agreements, significant changes to employment rights, and data protection reforms are among a set of new legislation announced in the King’s Speech today (17 July).

Overall

Cllr Louise Gittins, chair of the Local Government Association

“We welcome today’s King’s Speech, which includes a number of positive Bills which have the potential to tackle some of the big issues we face as a nation. Councils hold the local levers to solve many of these national challenges, whether it is improving care for adults and children, boosting inclusive growth, improving life chances for all, or tackling climate change,

“The legislative agenda set out today also includes some encouraging signs that the new Government recognises that, with the right powers and flexibilities, councils are critical to help it deliver its missions. For councils to be able to deliver, it is also crucial they have adequate long-term funding and more financial certainty through multi-year settlements.

“The LGA and councils are committed to working closely with the Government on the details of proposals to ensure that together we can address the fundamental long-term challenges facing our communities and help them deliver on their priorities."

Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, chairman of the District Councils’ Network

“This is an ambitious legislative programme which has the potential to bring about positive change in our communities. District councils want to work alongside ministers to bring about economic growth, homes, new jobs and increases in prosperity and wellbeing in every village, town and city.

“Previous governments have found that policies conceived from the centre do not necessarily translate into success on the ground. A partnership between ministers and local leaders – in particular those who are closest to communities – is vital to bring results and improve the lives of those people previous governments have struggled to reach.

“A culture of collaboration between the Government and district councils based on mutual trust and respect is essential to transform our local places for the better.”

Planning reform

Cllr Tim Oliver, chairman of the County Councils Network

“The government has published the outline of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Whilst we await further details on housing targets in the imminent revised National Planning Policy Framework, housing must be fairly allocated across the country.

“As important as housing numbers is the actual infrastructure that both enables and mitigates development, with councils in county areas suffering from significant infrastructure funding gaps.

“The government’s planning reforms must set out a way to more effectively capture funding for infrastructure, and above all, reform must be done in partnership with councils, rather than to them. Equally, while we strongly welcome strategic planning being part of an expanded devolution framework, it is imperative these new arrangements are open to all county areas.”

James Maurici KC of Landmark Chambers

“I really hoped this new Goverment would have listened. Its objectives, namely to build more homes to build well-designed homes and to speed things up, can be very largely achieved by policy, guidance and the actual making of decisions on recovered appeals and call-ins. More planning legislation means uncertainty and delay.

“Just leave the legal regime alone! Planning does not need more planning legislation. Save on one point - reverse Hillside! The system is being blighted by successive tinkering and to no good end.”

Matthew Evans, counsel in the planning team at law firm Forsters

“The proposal to improve local decision making by modernising planning committees is intriguing. 

“Delegating more decisions to officers is an obvious option. Even better if we can put planning committees on a more professional footing. It is spinning the wheel of fortune with committee members that leads to the most unpredictability at present.

“The Government has signalled that it wishes to push forward with an upgrade in capacity and professionalism in the planning system across the board.

 “Look at the English Devolution Bill alongside the planning proposals and the Government clearly feels that the decision making process is not fast or decisive enough.

“What does it mean for the various Local Government Acts if the role of local politicians is changed or the mayors of combined authorities have enhanced powers? In the past, the political conflict between the different levels of government - between the GLA and central government, for example - has caused delay, so I hope the current level of goodwill can deliver meaningful change.”

Kathryn Jump, partner and living sector co-head at Shoosmiths

“Today marks a pivotal shift towards a more pro-development approach. This recognises the importance of creating more quality, sustainable, and mixed-tenure homes, boosting residential supply across the UK, and understanding that this is central to delivering the economic growth the country needs.

“The reinstatement of mandatory housing targets and the strengthening of devolution powers are crucial first steps in accelerating housing provision. If the government aims to meet its 1.5m new homes target, it is essential that it continues to collaborate with the real estate industry to shape the next stage.”

“Planning reform, in particular, must be approached carefully to ensure that changes streamline, speed up, and better resource the system, rather than overhauling it, which could cause industry confusion and slow down any uptick in market activity. One aspect that must be considered closely is how revising the National Planning Policy Framework - expected later this year - will impact local people, as it could lead to a surge in legal challenges against the granting of planning permissions in this brave new world. Comprehensive public and industry consultation is key to avoiding the risk of legal challenges in court.”

Ben Standing, partner specialising in planning and environmental law at Browne Jacobson

“If the new government wants to make a real difference to building infrastructure in the short and medium terms, while also ensuring its flagship policy to establish Great British Energy is able to generate sufficient green power, there are two small changes to planning policy that can reap significant rewards.

“Firstly, it must clarify what the planning system will prioritise when giving weight to various considerations in planning applications to enable consistent decision-making across planning authorities."

“With so many environmental, legal and heritage issues to balance against potential benefits of development, a clear position at national level is required so that the strategic importance of new housing and infrastructure is a decisive factor.

“This is especially true in relation to large linear infrastructure, such as electricity transmission cables that span numerous planning authority areas. These pose issues like visual impact, so there must be a clear weighting in favour of key renewable infrastructure to clear planning hurdles.

“Secondly, the government must make it easier and cheaper for councils to update their local plans, which set out a pipeline for future development. This is currently a very burdensome and expensive task that involves many layers of bureaucracy and inspection, so loosening some of the most arduous tests they must pass would give the private sector a clear sense of direction when proposing new development.”

Jonathan Werran, Localis chief executive

“We urgently need planning reform to support good growth, but this needs to be balanced with the desperate need for some immediate stability to minimize disruption to developments and plans that are in progress.

“We have had four years of constant change which has led to the current stalemate across many parts of England and has resulted in poor outcomes as far as relatively few numbers of new homes built annually compared to need.

“Any reforms to planning will also have to be fully integrated with the Government’s infrastructure priorities and will need to be supported by better resources for local authorities to deliver on the ground the manifesto ambition for 1.5 million new homes over the lifetime of the parliament.”

Devolution pledges

Cllr Tim Oliver, Chairman of the County Councils Network

“It is imperative the government continues with what has worked in delivering 15 devolution settlements over the last two years and it is encouraging that the English Devolution Bill looks set to do this, by continuing with the county combined authority model and simplifying the process for establishing them.

“With the speech confirming the government will publish a more ambitious devolution framework, which we strongly welcome, it must be must be focused on retaining counties and their geographies as the building blocks of non-metropolitan devolution, expanding the current range of powers on offer to local areas and being flexible on governance.”

Laura Hughes, head of public law at Browne Jacobson

“The further rollout of devolution in England has been welcomed by local leaders who feel they are best equipped with the knowledge of their areas to make the best decisions.

“Providing greater powers on issues such as local bus services will help to ensure a co-ordinated approach to transport

“However, devolution has become very fragmented with just over half the population covered by a devolution deal and varying degrees of power handed down to different areas.

“At the same time, these powers have taken on a degree of standardisation rather than addressing unique and complex sets of circumstances in each local area where devolution is present.”

She added: “For devolution to truly work, we need to get back to recognising that areas will require specific powers to deal with specific issues, and we hope the English Devolution Bill reflect this, allowing tailored deals driven by what the areas want and need.”

Jonathan Werran, Localis chief executive

“The English Devolution Bill will give new powers to metro mayors and combined authorities to take control of buses and other vital powers from Westminster, which is to be welcomed. 

“But as with this week’s earlier announcement from local government secretary Angela Rayner of a ‘devolution revolution’, this begs the question as to how and by when does the mission-led Labour government with a focus on growth plan fill in the gaps in the map and cover the whole of England,  with a strategic devolution settlement?” 

Matt Prosser, Solace president

“The government believes that greater devolution of decision-making is ‘at the heart’ of a modern and dynamic economy – we couldn’t agree more. But empowering places must mean proper devolution of power to all areas and not just delegation; it’s absolutely crucial that councils aren’t put on the hook for delivery but left outside the room on strategy.

“Plans to allow local leaders to take control of local bus services, reform planning, improve the integrity of elections, enhance the NHS’s focus on prevention and improve mental health provision for young people are all encouraging but we will want to work with Ministers and officials on the detail to ensure all of these measures, and others besides, can achieve their aims in a way that works for our communities."

Child protection

Cllr Tim Oliver, Chairman of the County Councils Network

“The County Councils Network (CCN) is pleased to see that the Children’s Wellbeing Bill intends to strengthen multi-agency working across the children’s sector, including in particular the duty on schools to co-operate with councils so they are able more effectively plan school admissions, places and SEND inclusion – all of which the network called for in its Manifesto for Counties."

Adam Carey