<p>The government has opened its expressions of interest for Investment Zones, with local authorities now able to apply for the offer of lower taxes and streamlined planning rules for specific sites to enhance residential and commercial development.</p> <p>Following its <a href="http://www.house-builder.co.uk/news/chancellor-cuts-stamp-duty/">announcement of the zones in the mini-Budget</a> and further detail issued shortly afterwards, the government has given the 38 English councils with whom it has had discussions and all other mayoral combined authorities or upper tier authorities until Friday October 14 to bid to host an Investment Zone. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) opened the bidding last weekend (October 2).</p> <p>DLUHC said it was asking local authorities applying for Investment Zones to “keep growth at the front and centre of their plans by setting out the potential economic opportunities of an Investment Zone in their area, how they fit into the area’s wider economic strategy and how they will support long-term UK economic growth”. </p> <p>Investment Zones, DLUHC explained, could benefit from a range of tax incentives over the next decade, including stamp duty relief on land or buildings for residential schemes.</p> <p>Through them it also intends to “empower local places to deliver planning that is …