English Devolution Bill receives Royal Assent

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill has received Royal Assent, marking a significant milestone in the Government’s programme to expand devolution and strengthen local decision‑making across England.

The new Act introduces a wide package of reforms aimed at empowering Mayors, councils and communities, while reshaping how strategic powers are transferred from Whitehall.

Key measures include:

• A new Community Right to Buy, giving local people first refusal on valued community assets such as shops and community centres when they are put up for sale.
• Gambling Impact Assessments, enabling councils to better manage the concentration of gambling premises on high streets.
• A ban on Upwards Only Rent Review clauses in new and renewed commercial leases, preventing businesses from being locked into rising rents even when market rates fall.
• National taxi and PHV standards, including powers for enforcement officers to suspend licences issued by other authorities where drivers operate outside their licensed area.
• New local authority powers to enforce against dangerous pavement parking and to regulate rental e‑bikes, including parking, safety and accessibility requirements.

The Act also establishes Strategic Authorities with elected Mayors, designed to accelerate the devolution of powers over transport, planning, housing and economic regeneration. These authorities will be required to develop local growth plans aligned with national policy.

Further provisions include:

• A new duty for Mayors and Strategic Authorities to consider local health improvement and health inequalities in policy decisions.
• Powers for Mayors to intervene in planning applications of strategic importance and introduce mayoral development orders.
• The creation of a Local Audit Office to strengthen financial oversight and improve transparency in local government auditing.

The Government describes the Act as a major step in delivering a more consistent, streamlined and locally responsive devolution framework across England.

A reminder for IoL members

With devolution and local government reform accelerating, members can stay informed through the Institute of Licensing’s LGR & Devolution Hub, which provides updates, resources and analysis on ongoing changes.