Budget Decisions for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Grants Allocated from 2024 to 2025
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has announced plans to amend the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987, a move aimed at supporting economic growth and job creation.
The proposed amendments would bring about more flexible use of commercial, business, and service premises. This could enable certain changes of use to be made without the need for planning permission, streamlining the process and encouraging entrepreneurship.
These determinations are part of the powers conferred by section 50 of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020. This section empowers the Secretary of State to determine conditions on grant payments linked to the implementation of the Internal Market Act. The Secretary of State has used this power to specify conditions for payments under funding schemes such as the Homes for Ukraine scheme for 2024–25.
The proposed amendments to the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 are subject to a public consultation, which is open until a specified date. The consultation gives everyone an opportunity to share their views on the proposed changes and how they might impact the planning system in England.
The Act overall gives the Secretary of State powers to amend provisions related to the internal market, including the ability to add, vary, or remove legitimate aims or exclusions related to market access principles for goods and services. This broad authority underscores the Secretary of State's significant regulatory and administrative role in shaping the UK internal market framework.
In summary, the Secretary of State's determinations under section 50 of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 aim to amend the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 to support economic growth and job creation. The public is encouraged to participate in the consultation process to share their thoughts on these proposed changes.
These amendments to the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987, part of the Secretary of State's powers under the UK Internal Market Act 2020, are designed to promote economic growth and job creation in the business and finance sector by encouraging more flexible use of commercial premises. The Secretary of State invites public opinions on these changes through a consultation process, as these determinations could influence general news and possibly policy-and-legislation in the realm of politics, particularly in regards to urban development and planning.