DCLG: Responses to the Localism Bill receiving Royal Assent

Community Right to Challenge

"We welcome the opportunities that locally valued organisations will have under the Localism Bill's Community Right to Challenge to have their suggestions for better targeting and delivery of local services given proper consideration. With the statutory guidance on Best Value now in place, we trust that national and local government will promote social and environmental considerations - including the added value that local providers offer in terms of their personal knowledge, experience and expertise - alongside value for money, when making decisions about local service delivery."
Kevin Curley, Chief Executive, National Association for Voluntary and Community Action

Assets of Community Value (Community Right to Bid)

"We welcome the Localism Bill's provisions around Assets of Community Value and look forward to seeing communities working with councils to identify and list appropriate local assets. We trust that national and local government will promote the spirit of the new legislation as well as its letter, to ensure that community groups are given a level playing field with private interests to develop and submit their bids to buy listed assets as and when they may be put up for sale."
Kevin Curley, Chief Executive, National Association for Voluntary and Community Action

"These new rights will be useful tools in the hands of voluntary organisations who want to deliver better services for their beneficiaries or put buildings to better use in their local communities. We now need local government and voluntary organisations to work together to turn their potential into reality."
Sir Stephen Bubb, CEO, Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations

"The Right to Challenge and Right to Buy give communities a way of getting their 'foot in the door'. People should have more control over the services they receive and be able to put forward their views on how they could be delivered better."
Sir Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive, National Council for Voluntary Organisations

Locality

"The Localism Bill represents a vote of confidence in can-do communities. It brings opportunities for local groups to take on the planning system, to take over failing services, and to take ownership of the land and buildings that matter most to them.  From the experience of Locality's nationwide network, we know that local groups across the country have been taking control of much loved community assets for many years, often saving them from closure or neglect despite the odds. The provisions for a Community Right to Bid will help to ensure that communities can get a foot in the door to acquire land and buildings for the common good - but none of this will be easy. It will require renewed effort by Government and others to increase community investment and ensure community organisations have the relevant support needed to further develop their capability, otherwise communities will see these opportunities slipping through their fingers."
Steve Wyler, Chief Executive of Locality

"Too often there are significant barriers facing rural communities wanting to save their local shop and pub. The Community Right to Bid to Buy aims to help communities to address some of these barriers. We encourage rural communities to explore using the new Community Right powers to see how it can help safeguard their local shop and pub."
Peter Couchman, Chief Executive, Plunkett Foundation

"Westminster Council welcomes this historic legislation which will empower local communities. We have already seen examples of groups and individuals who want to shape and deliver services in their areas. The Localism Act will help free local authorities and communities to take genuine responsibility for their areas, as it will help us as a council to better meet the needs of our city."
Cllr Colin Barrow, Leader of Westminster City Council

Planning

"RICS welcomes the enactment of the Localism Bill into law. Giving communities new planning responsibilities to shape their local area is a positive step and RICS hopes that this spirit will be reflected in the implementation of the Act. However, this greater local involvement must provide enough housing and commercial property for communities and businesses to thrive and deliver badly needed economic growth."
Stephen Thornton, RICS UK Head of External Affair

"We welcome the Government's recognition of the need for localism to support sustainable economic growth and have been pleased to work closely with the Government in developing the concept of business neighbourhoods in areas that are mainly commercial in character. We look forward to the Government now realising the full potential of localism  by pressing ahead with other measures that can empower local communities such as greater local retention of rate revenues and tax increment financing."
Ghislaine Trehearne, Policy Officer, British Property Federation

Housing

"The Localism Act could bring visible changes to the way housing and community involvement are approached in coming years. Debates during the passage of the Act shone the spotlight on some of England's most pressing housing issues. The challenge now is for housing professionals, councillors, council staff, advice workers, tenants and others to use the new legal framework to deliver the housing outcomes which so many households value, need, and aspire to."
Abigail Davies, Assistant Director of Policy and Practice, Chartered Institute of Housing

London

"I am delighted that the stifling bureaucracy of the past is now behind us and London faces a future that will deliver among other benefits an enhanced housing and regeneration plan and greater scope for enterprise and job creation. This bill correctly delivers greater powers to City Hall and empowers London's boroughs. I have been clear throughout that historically too much has been controlled centrally by Whitehall and measured by standards that don't apply to the communities affected. This is local democracy in action."
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson