Gove unveils long-awaited levelling up strategy

The government’s Levelling Up white paper unveiled today (2 February) will promise a decade-long initiative of devolution and radical policy to shift government focus and resources to “Britain’s forgotten communities”. Ahead of the release of the 400-page document, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said the strategy will include 12 so-called “bold” levelling up laws. The department said the white paper will set out a “complete system change”, with policy set in law in a Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. Prime minister Boris Johnson said: “It is the most comprehensive, ambitious plan of its kind that the country has ever seen and it will ensure that the government continues to rise to the challenge and deliver for the people of the UK. “The challenges that we face have been embedded over generations and cannot be dug out overnight, but this white paper is the next crucial step.” The 12 so-called “missions” aim to support local public transport improvements, “becoming much closer to London standards”, promote access to 5G broadband and regenerate run-down town centres, specifically halving the number of poor-quality rental homes. The white paper calls for 20 “King’s Cross-style regeneration projects”, starting in Wolverhampton and Sheffield, spearheaded by Homes England. It will scrap the 80:20 rule that has seen government funding concentrated in the South East, with the £1.8bn brownfield fund directed to the North and the Midlands. As previously promised, homes in the private rented sector will be required to meet a minimum standard – the Decent Homes Standard and section 21 “no fault” evictions will be abolished. The government will also consult on a landlords register and use fines and bans to crack down on rogue landlords. The government has pledged to support R&D – with domestic public investment in these industries in the North, the Midlands, the South West, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Three innovation accelerators in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands and Glasgow will support local businesses and researchers through £100m in new government funding. Other missions will focus on skills and training, life expectancy and literacy in the young. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has dubbed the proposals the “biggest shift of power from Whitehall to local leaders in modern times”. Every part of England will be granted “London-style” powers and a mayor, if they wish, replicating the model of metro mayors in the combined authorities. The government will test this with nine areas seeking new mayoral deals: Cornwall, Derbyshire and Derby, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, Durham, Hull and East Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire and  Nottingham, and Suffolk. Existing combined authorities will be given “trailblazer” devolution deals. The 12 levelling up targets will be tied to public metrics to track progress and monitor disparity. The government will legislate that it has a statutory duty to publish an annual report to evaluate progress. Levelling up secretary Michael Gove said: “For decades too many communities have been overlooked and undervalued. As some areas have flourished, others have been left in a cycle of decline. The UK has been like a jet firing on only one engine. “Levelling up and this white paper are about ending this historic injustice and calling time on the postcode lottery.” To send feedback, e-mail emma.rosser@eg.co.uk or tweet @EmmaARosser or @EGPropertyNews Photo © Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock