Skip to main content
28.03.2024

More LURA comes to those who wait: regulations herald the introduction of commencement notices, high street rental auctions and pavement licences

It's time to update my commencement table again, as …. drumroll please… we now have a third set of commencement regulations for the Levelling-Up & Regeneration Act 2023… as well as a set of ‘consequential amendment’ regulations.  

This post looks at the commencement regulations. The other regulations contain changes to facilitate the introduction of combined county authorities. If you are interested, you can find them here.

The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (Commencement No.3 and Transitional and Savings Provision) Regulations 2024 were made on 18 March 2024.

The regulations bring another tranche of provisions in LURA into effect, although almost all the changes won't be felt on the ground for some time yet…

The most important provisions relate to:

Planning Data Standards

The provisions that will enable the ‘digital revolution’ of the planning system come into effect on 31 March 2024. 

The provisions grant powers to impose data standards on the provision of information in support of planning applications and the processing of planning applications. It also grants powers to the Secretary of State to require authorities to make certain data publically available.

We do not have the actual data standards as yet, but this is the first sign that the digitisation of the planning system might be on the way.

Commencement Notices

s.111 of LURA will take effect on 31 March 2024. This section amends the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 to require developers to serve a commencement notice on a local planning authority before implementing a planning permission. 

The duty only applies to developments of “a prescribed description” and much of the detail needs to be set out in secondary legislation, which have yet to be published. 

As such, whilst the legal duty may be in place by 31 March 2024, more legislative work needs to be done before anyone will be able to comply with it. 

Rental Auctions 

On 31 March 2024, a number of provisions relating to High Street Rental Auctions will come into effect. For the most part, these provisions simply empower the Secretary of State to make the secondary legislation required to introduce the new regime.  As such, a considerable amount of additional work will be required before anyone could actually hold one. 

Pavement Licences 

On 31 March 2024, the temporary pavement licencing regime will be made permanent, subject to some tweaks set out in LURA itself. 

The new regime will not apply to:

  • an application for a pavement licence which was made, but not determined, before 31 March 2024.
  • a pavement licence granted on or after 31 March 2024, where the application for that licence was made before 31 March 2024. 
  • a pavement licence granted before 31 March 2024.

A complete summary of the provisions is set out below, and an updated version of my commencement table follows at the end of this post. 

Provisions taking effect on 31 March 2024

  • sections 84 to 86 of LURA - which relate to the provision, processing and publication of planning data in accordance with approved data standards
  • sections 89 to 91 of LURA - which relate to the imposition of data standards by devolved authorities and the definitions provisions for Chapter 1 of Part 3
  • Section 111 which inserts a new section 93G into the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and amends sections 56 and 69 of that Act. Section 93G imposes a duty on the person intending to carry out a development to serve a commencement notice before any development has begun on the site.
  •  Section 171(7) of LURA. Section 171(7)  inserts a new section 135A into the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (c. 65). The effect of this new section is to give the Secretary of State the power to make regulations setting out how an oversight authority is to oversee the regeneration of a locally led development area.
  • Various provisions relating to changes to the CPO regime
  • Various provisions relating to the introduction of Rental Auctions
  • Section 229 and Schedule 22 - amends the Business and Planning Act 2020 to make permanent the regime for pavement licences (subject to certain amendments).

Provisions taking effect on 30 April 2024

  • Various provisions relating to the online publicity in CPO matters.

Updated Commencement Table  

Planning related provision of LURA

High level summary of provisions

 

When the provisions come into force

Part 3

Planning 

 
sections 84 to 86 (provisions relating to the processing, provision and publication of planning data) Section 84 - empowers an 
appropriate authority to require planning authorities to process planning data in accordance with approved data standards. 
Section 85 - allows planning authorities, by published notice, to require a person to provide them with planning data that 
complies with an approved data standard that is applicable to that data. 
Section 86  - gives appropriate 
authorities the power to make regulations to ensure that standardised data provided to or processed by planning authorities will be made available to the public under an approved open licence. 
31 March 2024
sections 89 to section 91Section 89 provides that the 
Secretary of State must consult or obtain the consent of the relevant devolved administration where planning data regulations contain provision within devolved competence. 
Section 90 brings into force Schedule 13 to the Act so far as it relates to 
Chapter 1 of Part 3 of the Act. Schedule 13 to the Act contains provisions about the restrictions on devolved authorities when making regulations under Chapter 1 of Part 3 of the Act. 
Section 91 provides definitions 
of key terms that are used throughout Chapter 1 of Part 3 of the Act. 
31 March 2024
section 94 (national development management policies: meaning);section 94 -  inserts a new s.38ZA into the PCPA 2004 that defines  National Development Management Policies and gives the Secretary of State the power to introduce, revoke, modify or otherwise alter them subject to such consultation as the Secretary of State deems appropriate 

31st January 2024

sections 106 and 107

section 106 (street votes): in so far as it confers a power to make regulations and so far as it relates to the provisions of Schedule 9 brought into force by paragraph (q);

section 107 (street votes: community infrastructure levy), so far as it confers a power to make regulations;

These provisions relate to Street Votes Development Orders  and are brought into force for the limited purpose of enabling regulations and development orders to be made.

31st January 2024

Sections 108 and 109 (so far as it confers a power to make regulations or 
to make a development order).

s.108 - empowers the Secretary of State to change the EIA regulations to allow for street votes

s.109 - relates to powers enabling ‘urgent crown development’ applications to be made directly to the Secretary of State in certain circumstances and sets out the procedures for doing so (the details need to be set out in secondary legislation of some kind).

Come into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.

26 December 2023

Section 111 (commencement notices)s.111  inserts a new section 93G into the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and amends sections 56 and 69 of that Act. Section 93G imposes a duty on the person intending to carry out a development to serve a commencement notice before any development has begun on the site.31 March 2024

Sections 112, 113 and 114 (so far as conferring 
a power to make regulations).

 

s.112 - introduces the power to issue completion notices if a development is being built out ‘unreasonably slowly’ and sets out the procedure for doing so.

s.113 - introduces the power for LPAs to decline to determine applications in cases of earlier non-implementation or unreasonably slow build-out.

s.114 - introduces the power to impose conditions relating to development progress reports on specified residential planning permissions in England – detail to be set out in secondary legislation. 

Come into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.

26 December 2023

 

section 123 (duty in relation to self-build and custom housebuilding)Section 123    amends section 2A of the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 to ensure that only land permissioned explicitly for self-build and custom housebuilding will qualify towards a relevant authority’s statutory duty to meet demand for self-build and custom housebuilding in the authority’s area.

31st January 2024

Sections 121, 126 to 128.

s. 121 - Grants the Secretary of State the power to provide relief from enforcement of planning conditions in certain circumstances – the detail is to be set out by way of secondary legislation.

s.126 - Ability to introduce fees for certain services in relation to nationally significant infrastructure projects.

s.127 - Power to shorten deadline for examination of development consent order applications.

s.128 - Introduces additional powers in relation to non-material changes to development consent orders.

come into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.

26 December 2023

section 129 (hazardous substances consent: connected applications to the Secretary of State);Section 129 of the Act amends section 62A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to enable applicants to submit applications for hazardous substance consent under the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 directly to the Secretary of State when connected with a relevant application submitted under section 62A.

31st January 2024

Sections 130 to 133 and 136.

 

s.130 – Introduces a wide-ranging power to make regulations and orders under the Planning Acts.

s.131 – Introduces a power for appointees to vary determinations as to procedure.

s.132 – Enables the pre-consolidation amendment of planning, development and compulsory purchase legislation.

s.133 – Provisions enabling the participation in certain proceedings conducted by, or on behalf of, the Secretary of State (i.e. PINS proceedings) via remote means.

s.136 - A requirement that the Secretary of State vary the Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2021 (“the 2021 Direction”) so that it applies in relation to applications for planning permission for development affecting ancient woodland before the end of the period of three months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.

 

Come into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.

26 December 2023

Section 135  (biodiversity net gain: pre-development biodiversity value and habitat enhancement)Section 135  amends Schedule 7A to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to make provision about the valuation of the pre-development biodiversity value of an onsite habitat and of the enhancement of the biodiversity of a habitat. Schedule 7A to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 is inserted by Schedule 14 to the Environment Act 2021, which comes into force at the same time as these provisions.

12th February 2024.

Sections 109, 112, 113 and 114 (so far as not already commenced by 
virtue of paragraph (a)), and all other provisions in Part 3.

s.109 - Relates to powers enabling ‘urgent crown development’ applications to be made directly to the Secretary of State in certain circumstances and sets out the procedures for doing so (the details need to be set out in secondary legislation of some kind).

s.112 - Introduces the power to issue completion notices if a development is being built out ‘unreasonably slowly’ and sets out the procedure for doing so.

s.113 - Introduces the power for LPAs to decline to determine applications in cases of earlier non-implementation or unreasonably slow build-out.

s.114 - Introduces the power to impose conditions relating to development progress reports on specified residential planning permissions in England – detail to be set out in secondary legislation.

sch. 13 -  Regulations under chapter 1 of Part 3 or Part 6: restrictions on devolved authorities.

Literally everything else in Part 3 – including the changes to Local Plan making, the removal of the four-year enforcement period, the BNG provisions, and the heritage changes. 

 

come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by regulations appoint.

Part 4

Provisions to introduce the Infrastructure Levy and change the Community Infrastructure Levy.

come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by regulations appoint.
Section 140

Changes the prison terms permitted for CIL enforcement offences to the following: 

"Regulations under this section creating a criminal offence may not provide for— (a) imprisonment for a term exceeding the maximum term for summary offences, on summary conviction for an offence triable summarily only, 

(b) imprisonment for a term exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court, on summary conviction for an offence triable either way, or 

(c) imprisonment for a term exceeding 2 years, on conviction on indictment. 

(12) In subsection (11)(a), “the maximum term for summary offences” means— (a) in relation to an offence committed before the time when section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 comes into force, 6 months; (b) in relation to an offence committed after that time, 51 weeks

31st January 2024

Part 5

Provisions relating to Community Land Auction Pilots.

come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by regulations appoint.

Part 6

(including Schedule 13 so far as it relates to Part 6)

Provisions relating to Environmental Outcome Reports. 

comes into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.

26 December 2023

 

Part 7

Provisions relating to Nutrient Pollution Standards.

comes into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.

26 December 2023

 

Part 9

Changes to Compulsory Purchase.

 
section 180 (acquisition by local authorities for purpose of regeneration);Section 180 of the Act amends section 226 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to ensure local authorities are empowered to compulsorily purchase land for regeneration purposes.

31st January 2024

section 181 (online publicity), so far as it confers a power to make regulations;


 

Section 181  amends those parts of  the Acquisition of Land Act 1981, which set out the publicity requirements for certain documents and notices issued as part of the compulsory purchase order (“CPO”) process. 

Section 181 introduces requirements to publish documents and notices online. Section 11 includes a power to prescribe the form of notice to be published online by regulations.

31st January 2024

section 181 (in so far as not already in force) in relation to EnglandSection 181 amends sections 7, 11, 12, 15 and 22 and paragraph 9 of Schedule 3 to the 1981 Act, which set out the publicity requirements for certain documents and notices issued as part of the CPO process. Section 181 introduces requirements to publish documents and notices online.30 April 2024
section 182 (confirmation proceedings), so far as it confers a power to make regulations;
(section 183 (conditional confirmation), so far as it confers a power to make regulations;

section 182 amends sections 13A, 13B, 13C and 14D of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (c. 67) (“the 1981 Act”) which set out the procedure a confirming authority must follow when considering objections to a compulsory purchase order (“CPO”). The amendments made by section 182 give the confirming authority greater discretion to use the appropriate procedure while still giving any remaining objector who wishes to be heard in person by the confirming authority the right to do so.

 section 183 inserts a new section 13BA into the 1981 Act, makes consequential amendments to section 15 of that Act, and makes consequential amendments to a number of other Acts through Schedule 18. The amendments made by section 183 give confirming authorities the power to confirm a CPO conditionally.

 

31 March 2024

section 184 (corresponding provision for purchases by Ministers), so far as it relates to the provisions of para 1 of schedule Schedule 19  (see below) 

 

paragraph 1 (online publicity) of Schedule 19 (compulsory purchase: corresponding provision for purchases by Ministers), so far as it confers a power to make regulations.

These provisions bring into force paragraph 1 of Schedule 19 to the Act for the purpose of making regulations. 

Paragraph 1 of Schedule 19 to the Act inserts paragraph 3A and amends paragraphs 2, 3 and 6 of Schedule 1 to the Acquisition of Land Act 1981, which sets out the publicity requirements for certain documents and notices issued as part of the CPO process when CPO powers are used by Ministers. Paragraph 1 of Schedule 19 introduces requirements to publish documents and notices online. Paragraph 1(3)(a)(ii) of Schedule 19 amends paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 1 to the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 such that the Minister acquiring the land must “publish a notice [of the draft compulsory purchase order] in the prescribed form on an appropriate website”. Section 7(2) of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 provides that “[a]nything which … is required or authorised to be prescribed shall be prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State by statutory instrument”. When read together, those two provisions empower the Secretary of State to prescribe the form the Minister must use when notifying the draft compulsory purchase order on an appropriate website

31st January 2024

section 184 (corresponding provision for purchase by Ministers), so far as it relates to the provisions of Schedule 19 brought into force by paragraph (t);These provisions bring into force paragraphs 2 and 3 of Schedule 19 to the Act for the purpose of making regulations. Paragraph 2 of Schedule 19 to the Act amends paragraphs 4A and 4B of Schedule 1 to the 1981 Act which set out the procedure a Minister must follow when considering objections to a CPO. The amendments made by paragraph 2 of Schedule 19 to the Act give the Minister greater discretion to use the appropriate procedure while still giving any remaining objector who wishes to be heard in person by the Minster the right to do so. Paragraph 3 of Schedule 19 to the Act inserts paragraph 4AA and makes consequential amendments to paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 to the 1981 Act. The amendments made by paragraph 3 of Schedule 19 give the Minister the power to confirm a CPO conditionally.31 March 2024

 section 184 (corresponding provision for purchase by Ministers), so far as it relates to the provisions of Schedule 19 brought into force by paragraph ©

 paragraph 1 (online publicity) of Schedule 19 (compulsory purchase: corresponding provision for purchase by Ministers), in relation to England, so far as not already in force.

these provisions bring into force the remainder of paragraph 1 of Schedule 19 to the Act in relation to England. Paragraph 1 of Schedule 19 to the Act inserts paragraph 3A and amends paragraphs 2, 3 and 6 of Schedule 1 to the 1981 Act, which set out the publicity requirements for certain documents and notices issued as part of the CPO process when CPO powers are used by Ministers. Paragraph 1 of Schedule 19 introduces requirements to publish documents and notices online.30 April 2024

section 185 (time limits for implementation);
 

section 186 (agreement to vary vesting date);
 

section 187 (common standards for compulsory purchase data);
 

section 188 (‘no-scheme’ principle: minor amendments);

Section 185   inserts new section 13D into the Acquisition of Land Act 1981, giving confirming authorities the power to extend the time limit for implementation of a compulsory purchase order. It amends sections 4 and 4A of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 and sections 5A and 5B of the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981, which set out the current statutory time limits within which compulsory purchase powers under a CPO must be implemented after it has been confirmed and makes consequential amendments to section 582 of the Housing Act 1985.

Section 186  inserts a new section 8A into the Compulsory Purchase (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 to allow for the landowner and acquiring authority to agree to vary the date on which an interest in land being compulsorily acquired will vest in the acquiring authority.

Section 187 empowers the Secretary of State to make regulations to set data standards in relation to certain CPO information.

 Section 188  amends sections 6D and 6E of the Land Compensation Act 1961 which define the ‘scheme’ for the purpose of assessing compensation. These sections provide that where land is acquired for regeneration or redevelopment which is facilitated or made possible by a relevant transport project, the ‘scheme’ includes the relevant transport project. The amendments ensure that the definition of ‘scheme’ includes any re-development, regeneration and improvement that form part of the ‘scheme’.

31st January 2024

Section 190 of the Act (power to require prospects of planning permission to be ignored)Section 190 amends various provisions of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981, the Land Compensation Act 1961, the New Towns Act 1981, the Welsh Development Agency Act 1975, which deal with the assessment of compensation and makes consequential amendments to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The amendments allow confirming authorities, in relation to certain public sector acquiring authorities exercising certain CPO powers, to direct that the value associated with the following matters are not payable, provided doing so is in the public interest: (a) the prospect of the grant of a planning permission; and (b) compensation for the loss of the potential of development for which there was a reasonable expectation that planning permission would have been granted in the absence of the CPO.

30th April 2024

Section 190 of the Act - for Wales (power to require prospects of planning permission to be ignored) Section 190 amends various provisions of the 1981 Act, the Land Compensation Act 1961 (c. 33), the New Towns Act 1981 (c.64) and the Welsh Development Agency Act 1975 (c. 70) which deal with the assessment of compensation, and makes consequential amendments to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The amendments allow confirming authorities, in relation to certain public sector acquiring authorities exercising certain CPO powers, to direct that the value associated with the following matters are not payable, provided doing so is in the public interest: (a) the prospect of the grant of planning permission; and (b) compensation for the loss of the potential of development for which there was a reasonable expectation that planning permission would have been granted in the absence of the CPO.31 March 2024
Section 189 (prospects of planning permission for alternative development) Section of 189 amends sections 14, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 22 of the Land Compensation Act 1961 which relate to taking account of actual or prospective planning permission and the certification of ‘appropriate alternative development’. The amendments make various changes including to when prospective planning permission is to be treated as certain, what certificates of appropriate alternative development should contain, to clarify when the relevant planning date falls, whether account should be taken of the expenses incurred in the issue of a certificate, and corresponding amendments to the process of appeals to the Upper Tribunal against certificates.

31st January 2025

CPO TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS 

Sub-regulations (1), (3), (4), (5) and (6) relating to sections 185, 189 and 190 ensure the amendments do not affect CPOs that have crystallised in the public domain before the relevant sections come into force to avoid changing the law applicable to those CPOs mid-process. 

Sub-regulation (2) relating to section 186 ensures the amendments do not apply to general vesting declarations executed before the relevant sections come into force to avoid changing the law applicable to those general vesting declarations mid-process.

 

Part 10

Provisions relating to High Street Rental Auctions 

 

Section 203 (rental auctions), so far as it confers a power to make regulations.

Section 205 (terms of contract for tenancy), so far as it confers a power to make regulations;

Section 206 (terms of tenancy), so far as it confers a power to make regulations;

Section 214 (further provision about letting notices), so far as it confers a power to make regulations;

Section 215 (other formalities);

section 203, subsections (3) and (5) give the Secretary of State the power to make regulations which provide for the process for the rental auction and how the ‘successful bidder’ at auction will be identified. Subsection (4) requires provision in the regulations for the local authority to specify the suitable high street use ahead of the auction. Subsections (6) to (8) set out matters which the Secretary of State may provide for in the regulations in connection with the rental auction.

Section 205  subsection (6) gives the Secretary of State the power through regulations to make further provision about the terms of the tenancy contract and, in making the regulations, subsection (7) requires the Secretary of State to have regard to the terms on which contracts for the grant of short-term tenancies are typically entered into on a commercial basis.

Section 206 subsection (7) gives the Secretary of State the power through regulations to make further provision about the terms of the tenancy and, in making the regulations, subsection (8) requires the Secretary of State to have regard to the terms on which short-term tenancies are typically granted on a commercial basis.

Section 214 makes further provision about letting notices.

Section 215  gives the Secretary of State the power to make regulations in relation to the manner of or procedure to be followed in connection with a number of matters in Part 10 of 

 31 March 2024