Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 14
14
We welcome the Government’s intentions to reform the Compulsory Purchase Order process, which is overdue.
Recommendation
We welcome the Government’s intentions to reform the Compulsory Purchase Order process, which is overdue. The Government must publish further detail on proposed reforms to the Compulsory Purchase Order process without delay, along with timescales for reform. It should set out how it intends to streamline and simplify the process, as well as how it intends to ensure that local authorities have the necessary expertise. (Paragraph 71) Government support for high streets
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government will pr [...truncated...] as flood risk, noise and transport in order to mitigate any impacts on residents. Where high streets are in conservation areas, an additional prior approval applies allowing for local consideration of the impact of the change of use of the ground floor on the character or sustainability of that conservation area. We consider that this provides the right balance between consideration of impacts on residents and the amenity of the area, with the sustainability of the high street. To go beyond this would make the process more onerous for applicants in respect of the requirements to be met and the information to be provided, and for local planning authorities in the demands placed on them to determine the application for prior approval. We are encouraged to see recent reports suggesting high streets vacancy rates are in decline. Local Data Company data has shown that vacancy rates fell for the first time since 2018 in the second half of 2021.