London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The Housing Minister has introduced significant reforms to empower mayors with extensive control to bypass planning delays on major building projects, as part of Labour’s move for “devolution by default.”
Regions will gain expanded planning authority under a white paper to be revealed this week. The plan outlines housing targets and identifies major infrastructure projects, from road improvements and junction upgrades to water reservoirs, shipping and transportation.
The development follows the prime minister’s recent pledge to push local councils to act if they block Labour’s goals of constructing 1.5 million homes over the next five years.
The white paper proposes creating strategic authorities across England to manage devolved powers, but the move is expected to spark opposition from smaller district councils.
The government stated that this measure would help to reduce overlap and empower cities and regions to play a larger role.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband are leading the significant push to accelerate building across government departments. The devolution plans follow Rayner’s recent announcement to reform national planning policy, including annual housing targets for councils to deliver 370,000 for English councils.
Ms Rayner, the deputy prime minister and housing minister will pledge on Monday to grant more power to local mayors with “skin in the game,” though top-down targets will continue to ensure areas meet housing demands and prevent local resistance from hindering key strategic projects.
This comes after Ed Miliband’s energy plan, which will classify onshore wind as a nationally significant infrastructure project and introduce centralized energy system planning,
He told The Guardian that ministers believe that building drives, especially for clean energy, will gain more public support. Miliband added, “I am confident the British public support the drive to clean, secure renewable power. People know it is right for energy security and climate.”
As reported by the Independent, the proposal outlines 20 to 30 new, larger authorities, while more than 150 smaller councils in England will be eliminated.
Under the new proposed reforms, mayors in major cities and regions in England will be given power to control rail services for the first time.
Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, stated that promoting growth is a key objective of the policy.
Ms Alexander, who was appointed as Transport secretary by Keir Starmer after Louise Haigh’s resignation stated, “These new powers mark a historic shift in how our railways are run – giving local leaders the ability to shape services that truly meet the needs of their communities and drive local growth.”
The housing secretary will declare that the White Paper, which will provide further details on devolution policy, will be a “turning point.”
Ms Rayner is set to speak to mayors, local government representatives, and business leaders, and state, “When we finally see communities, people and places across England begin to take back control over the things that matter to them.”
The Guardian reports that she will add in the speech, “Devolution will no longer be agreed at the whim of a minister in Whitehall, but embedded in the fabric of the country, becoming the default position of the government.”
A government insider stated that Rayner and Miliband, often targeted within the cabinet, have proven as key figures to lead the government’s “build, build, build” initiative, despite the potential political backlash and local opposition to the ambitious plan of constructing millions of homes.
Louise Gittins, chair of the Local Government Association, appreciated the move to shift funding and power to local leaders but warned that “moving funding and power from Whitehall to local leaders is needed.”
She added, “Devolution is not an end in itself and cannot distract from the severe funding pressures that are pushing local services to the brink.”
A councillor and vice-chair of the District Council’s Network, Hannah Dalton, stressed that we are worried that the creation of mega-councils could reverse devolution by removing powers from local communities and denying millions of people without genuine local control and representation.