Land: Sales
Communities and Local Government
Ian Austin (Dudley North, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of legislation governing the sale of land by (a) individuals, (b) private companies and (c) statutory or public authorities and the role of local authorities to (i) block and (ii) take pre-emptive action against decisions which are not in the local interest.
Andrew Stunell (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Communities and Local Government; Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)
The Localism Act 2011 increases the powers of local authorities to tackle unauthorised development and the abuse of retrospective planning permission.
The Act also introduces new community rights which will give local residents greater opportunities to influence development in their areas, bid to buy local assets that are important to them and bid to run local services differently and better.
In relation to guidance to local authorities on the sale of properties, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of
As the impact assessment made clear, a review of the Localism Act's provision will be conducted in the normal way.