Ministers pushing the nebulous concept of "localism" are claiming a small, yet significant step forward in their drive for community empowerment. Seventeen parishes, and small urban areas, have just been selected by the government to spearhead a new neighbourhood planning regime. According to the decentralisation minister, Greg Clark, these community "frontrunners" finally provide an opportunity for local people to "shape development in their areas rather than being dictated to" – by Whitehall, presumably. It is a template, we're assured, for something much bigger and bolder. The idea is that proposals for – say – new housing, small businesses and workshops will all be pulled together in a neighbourhood plan, funded with a modest £20,000 government grant. Once complete, the plan will have to be approved by parishioners and residents in a local referendum. It will then become an "order" and gain a little legitimacy. So far, so local. But this has been no easy process for Clark. Over the past few months his Department for Communities and Local Government – headed by an outwardly bullish Eric Pickles – has been under pressure from the Treasury to soften its localism rhetoric. With the Localism Bill running behind schedule, it's clear that a key element – delivering power to parishes and neighbourhoods – is colliding with proposals from the chancellor, George Osborne, to promote growth through bypassing the planning system. That means, for instance, driving through 21 low-tax enterprise zones, persuading developers to convert redundant offices and buildings into homes without the need for planning permission, and giving house-builders surplus government land. How does this gel with parish and neighbourhood planning? Bluntly, it doesn't. Read more on The Guardian website.
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