08.09.16
Government abandons Land Registry privatisation in new Bill
Controversial proposals to privatise the Land Registry have been excluded from a new Bill which the government says will boost the number of homes being built.
The Neighbourhood Planning Bill was originally due to contain the proposals when it was announced in the Queen’s Speech in May, but they were not mentioned when it was introduced in Parliament yesterday.
However, the plans were opposed by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCSU), the Competition and Markets Authority and MPs including Labour’s David Lammy and Bernard Jenkin, the chair of the Public and Constitutional Affairs Committee, on the grounds that it could lead to commercial conflicts of interest.
Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCSU, said: “We showed two years ago, and again this time round, that selling off the Land Registry would be stupid and wrong, serving only private companies looking to profit from homeowners' data.
“We welcome the government's pause, but the plan should be scrapped in its entirety, never to see the light of day again, and the Land Registry should remain fully in public hands.”
A government spokesperson said: “No decision has been taken on the future of the Land Registry. A consultation on the Land Registry’s future closed in May and we are carefully considering our response. It is only right that new ministers take time to look at all their options before making a decision.”
Cllr Martin Tett, the LGA’s spokesperson for housing, said he was “pleased” at the news.
He said councils want to work with the government to transfer local land charges registers to the Land Registry, and that it was “imperative” that the government continues to guarantee the cost of transferring data to the registry for councils.
However, Cllr Tett noted that he was “surprised” that the Bill also excludes plans to establish the National Infrastructure Commission on a statutory basis.
“Councils see the establishment of a national body that will enable much more robust long-term strategic decision-making on the country's infrastructure needs as a step in the right direction,” he said. “We hope the government remains fully committed to the need for such a body and one that recognises the vital role of local authorities in delivering infrastructure for a modern economy and all communities.”
The Bill includes proposals to make compulsory purchase orders easier to use. It will also ensure that planning conditions which require developers to take action before work begins to reduce the impact on heritage and the environment are only used ‘where strictly necessary’.
Cllr Tett said: “Councils approve almost nine out of 10 planning applications and the number of homes granted planning permission by local authorities during 2015 was 253,000, the highest level since 2007. There is little evidence to suggest development is being delayed by planning conditions. Planning conditions provide a vital role, enabling planning permissions to go ahead which would otherwise be refused or delayed while the details are worked out. They can also save developers time and money as they do not need to invest in detailed submissions until the principle of the development is granted.”
Gavin Barwell, the housing and planning minister, said: “The prime minister has been absolutely clear that we need to build more homes and this Bill is the first of a number of measures to deliver on that.
“We have already built more than 900,000 homes since 2010 and now this Bill will help speed up delivery of the further new homes our country needs and ensure our foot is still firmly on the pedal.”
The Bill also contains measures to make it easier for communities to develop neighbourhood plans, following a recent government consultation.
(Image c. Dominic Lipinski from PA Wire)
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