English Devolution White Paper published

The government has today (December 16) published a white paper on devolution in England, with strategic authorities and mayors to be granted housing and planning powers, including the ability to impose a “mayoral levy” on developers.

In the foreword of the English Devolution White Paper, Angela Rayner, deputy prime minister and housing secretary, wrote that mayors would have “strong new powers”, also over transport, energy, skills, employment support “and more”, underpinned by “integrated and consolidated” funding.

As part of being handed development management powers – similar to those of the mayor of London which include the ability to call in planning applications of “strategic importance” – mayors will be able to charge developers a mayoral levy to ensure housing schemes feature all the necessary infrastructure to support them.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) pointed to the mayoral community infrastructure levy that was introduced in Greater London in 2012 to help fund the Elizabeth Line.

The white paper also dictates that all areas, with or without a strategic authority, must produce a spatial development strategy, to be adopted with support from a majority of constituent members. “This policy change means more homes will …