Transcript Slide 1

Future of London
Localism in London
Ben Harrison
Director, Future of London
23 May 2012
Future of London is…
“…an independent, not for profit,
organisation that brings together a
community of practitioners
committed to tackling the big
regeneration and development
challenges facing London, to
deliver a world-leading, prosperous
and sustainable capital city.”
Localism in London: Context
Localism agenda
• Fundamental change in the relationship between citizens and the
state.
• Individuals and communities to have more power and responsibility.
Economic climate
• Stagnating growth and macro-economic uncertainty
• Local authority cuts
Planning transformation
• Greater democratic and local control
• Rebalancing system in favour of sustainable development
• Delivering a simpler and more effective system
• Incentives over targets
The Research Question
Will localism help build better places?
• interviews with senior practitioners within London Boroughs and the
GLA
• research seminar with over 25 participants from local authority
planning and regeneration departments
• a survey of 48 senior local authority planning and regeneration
officers
• case studies from across London
London is unique
• Global city – economic position & international
networks
• Mayorality, GLA, Mayoral Development
Corporations & Pan-London Enterprise Partnership
• 33 local authorities with separate planning,
education and health functions.
• Most transient and diverse communities in UK
with high inequality
• Complex array of voluntary, community
and neighbourhood groups
The Findings 1:
Regional Government has been consolidated and
strengthened
•GLA has absorbed functions previously undertaken by quangos
•Range of new initiatives have been launched:
London-wide Enterprise Partnership
Olympic Mayoral Development Corporation
Enterprise Zone in East London.
•London needs to continually improve its strategic leadership to
maintain its position as a global economic powerhouse.
•But – got to be in partnership with boroughs – localism gives them
significant opportunities too
The Findings 2
Localism will encourage a multitude of funding and
delivery approaches
• 80% thought General Power of Competence could be useful
or very useful
• over half are planning to engage in innovative activity to help
stimulate growth and regeneration in their area
• Less than half looking at other forms of fundraising to deliver
infrastructure eg. prudential borrowing
• Very positive around HRA: predict income and borrow against
future returns, develop their own land, and enter into more
development joint ventures.
• impressive 94% thought that CIL may be useful, very useful or
extremely useful in regenerating their local areas
The Findings 3
The localism agenda could be enhanced by
greater Borough collaboration
•
not be seen as a zero sum game between regional and local
government, or between Boroughs themselves
•
80% of practitioners surveyed confirmed that they were looking into
the prospect of working across boundaries to deliver regeneration
•
‘revolving infrastructure funds’ that would cover sub-regions of
London (pooling CIL, HRA or NHB)
•
Boroughs more sceptical about incentives such as NHB and
community powers such as Neighbourhood planning, Community
Right to Build and Assets of Community Value (all less than 10%)
•
Boroughs will have a key role to play in supporting the development
of neighbourhood plans, building local capacity for participation,
and encouraging a positive approach to development.
What does localism mean
for London?
• 75% of London regeneration practitioners surveyed
believed that the Government did not have a
coherent approach to localism
• Fewer than 10% felt that the localism agenda
provided them with the tools they need to raise
standards in planning.
However…
How useful will the introduction of
HRA Reform be?
(41 respondents)
How useful will the introduction of the
Community Infrastructure Levy be?
(46 respondents)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Percentage of respondents
Very useful/extremely useful
may be useful
No use at all/unlikely to be useful
100
How useful will the introduction of
New Homes Bonus be?
(45 respondents)
Conclusions
• Strategic role essential, but more clarity needed on
how Enterprise Partnership will work and the
expectation of more Enterprise Zones across
London
• Use of powers will vary – capacity and appetite for
risk - Boroughs need to be ambitious and innovative
• Localism agenda provides a number of
opportunities for, and even necessitates, greater
collaboration between the tiers of Government that
run London, and the communities and businesses
that they serve
Future of London is an independent, not-forprofit forum and policy unit focused on the
challenges facing urban regeneration, housing
and economic development practitioners.
Future of London
Adam House
1 Fitzroy Square
London
W1T 5HE
www.futureoflondon.org.uk
© Future of London 2011 Ltd
Future of London 2011 Ltd is a company limited by guarantee registered in England (No. 7575624)