LOCALISM AS AN OPPORTUNITY AND A CHALLENGE 18th May 2011

1. LOCALISM AS AN OPPORTUNITY AND A CHALLENGE 18th May 2011 Dr Tim Brown Centre for Comparative Housing Research Faculty of Business & Law, De Montfort University, Leicester

2. Content Localism and the Localism Bill Linked Policy Developments Challenges Opportunities Lessons from Other Countries

3. Localism Localism and the Localism Bill Big Society �Good Society �Community Empowerment Balancing Rights and Responsibilities of Individuals and Communities Public Expenditure e.g. Homes and Communities Agency Investment Programme Regional Growth Fund

4. Localism Bill Overview Major Piece of Complex Legislation : Housing, Planning, Regeneration and Local Government House of Commons Committee Stage Completed Bill to Act : Late 2011 / Early 2012 Many Consultation Papers on Guidance & Regulations Implementation of Legislation from April 2012

5. Key Housing Related Proposals Flexible Tenure Homelessness & Private Rented Sector Allocations and Mobility Abolition of Regional Spatial Strategies Neighbourhood Planning (& Blaby Pilot) General Power of Competence for Councils

6. Find Out More About the Localism Bill Free Seminar on Wednesday Evening 20th July Chartered Institute of Housing East Midlands / Centre for Comparative Housing Research / Greenwoods Solicitors Hugh Aston Building, De Montfort University Book Places at www.dmu.ac.uk/cchr Taster Lecture on the Role of Local Enterprise Partnerships for Housing : 7th July at 1700 See http://www.dmu.ac.uk/faculties/business_and_law/business/housing/housing-events.jsp

7. Linked Policy Developments New Policies e.g. Affordable Rent Programme New Homes Bonus (and Incentivisation) Emerging Policy Areas e.g. Planning for Growth Economic Development and Local Enterprise Partnerships Other Legislation e.g. Health & Social Care Police Reform

8. Glass Half Empty or Half Full! Pessimistic / Negative Perspective Implicit Assumption : Post 2015 and Return to an Apparent Golden Age Pre-2007ish! �Lets Make the Most of the Opportunity Presented by the Crisis� Opportunity for Rethinking Housing, Planning and Regeneration Policies and Practices

9. Four Big Challenges What is �Local�? Sub-Region, County, Local Authority, Neighbourhood / Parish Localism and Planning for Growth : Are These Principles Compatible? Greater Freedoms for Councils or Postcode Lottery? Real or Conditional Localism?

10. Four Big Opportunities Local Authority Strategic Housing Function e.g. Tenancy Strategy Neighbourhood / Parish / Town Focus Incentivisation for Housing Development Creating a Housing Ladder of Opportunities e.g. Affordable Rent

11. Learning Lessons from Abroad Localism Why Focus on Other Countries? Shock Therapy rather than Policy Transfer Health Warnings e.g. Economic, Political and Social Context Partial Understanding : �A Little Knowledge is a Bad Thing�

12. Policy Overview Fixation on Tenure and on Owner Occupation in England and UK Housing Provision e.g. Western Germany Subsidies for Private Sector to Provide Social Housing Incentivisation Alternative �Tenures� e.g. Scandinavian Countries Housing Co-operatives Private Renting e.g. USA Institutional Investment Strong Regulatory Controls and High Levels of Investment

13. Neighbourhood Dimension -USA Community Land Trusts (CLTs) in England e.g. Stonesfield, Oxfordshire Burlington Community Land Trust, Vermont American Community Land Trust as Delivery Vehicles for Municipal Housing & Planning Policies Community Development Corporations Neighbourhood Planning and Regeneration Diverse Range of Services Community Empowerment

14. Questions and Discussion