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First ten projects given green light under Sustainable Communities Act

The first ten projects chosen for progression under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 were unveiled last week by the Communities Secretary.

A number of the projects would require changes to legislation or regulations. The ten proposals include:

  • Relaxing the rules on the lighting of road signs to help cut installation and maintenance costs, energy consumption and light pollution (put forward by Redbridge Borough Council). The government said it will consider changes to rules set out after a review in 2002.
  • Making it is compulsory for the owners of empty business premises such as shops to talk to councils about the possibility of the premises being used by the community (the London Borough of Islington). The government said it will consult on the proposal.
  • Giving communities the right to buy privately or publicly owned assets that are for sale in order to develop opportunities for community benefit (Wirral and South Hams). The government said it “will look into the challenges and barriers that a community right to buy approach would solve and what other solutions would help”.
  • Tackling the problem of large pub and retail companies imposing restrictive covenants on pubs preventing them from continuing as pubs when sold (Newcastle City Council, Ryedale District Council and Darlington Metropolitan District Council). The Ministry of Justice is to consult on removing the right to impose such restrictions.
  • Allowing local authorities to employ single teams of wardens capable of dealing with all civil enforcement issues (Kettering, Redcar and Cleveland). The government has committed to reviewing the current rules.

John Denham said the ten projects were chosen as they offered the best potential to bring real benefits to the community.

He added: “I am excited by the quality of the ideas being put forward. This really is local democracy in action and this announcement is just the beginning.”

Some 300 ideas were originally submitted to the Local Government Association. The government said it would work with the LGA to give all the proposals proper consideration.