?weeping Land Reforms Planning Legislation

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5297, 9 January 1947, Page 5

?weeping Land Reforms Planning Legislation

1 (Press Assu.~

" development musi have sanct10n . of government

- By Telei"rph — Copyright.) ,

I LONDON, January 8. ■Land in Britain is not lo bo na.ionalised, but sweeping ancl Ritrovorsial changea ara i5ropo.sc: d in the Town and Country ■anning Bill, published to-day as a White Paper, says ■uter's lobbyisl. Mr. Lewis Siikin, Minister of Town and ■untrv Planning, will move the recond reading at the end of ■nuary. and the measure mav be law by July. All purchases ■ land i«.r public ii.se will be ai the existing use value, # the ■;>) sfar.dard being retained. Ontdoor advertisements, such B hoardings. will he coiitroi'.d, and historic buildings ■eserved.

■ i,ili 'i' iinos »\vo elements in lf«The v.-i! ir t'nr the prrpose for liM'lijeb h-ts been used. This is oflctiuod as ihe existing use value. «riic vai-i« sW potentially mere !c*)'nti:a 1 1 use: for example, the Q*levvl"ii -•••!? ,.f farm land as a ■mildiiiu i state or the replacedBiu'. i>f ho'i.-es by shops or eineBiias. ThL !>' defined as develop-laBiu-nt vaiuc. | Be i»ill piovides: — (■No la; ti ievelopnient niay oceur tjBwitho"i !)"i'iUSsion. The land■iffiier will he free to continue ■ising tln: land for existing pur■poses, hui the question whether /■ht luii'I r'.ay he developed will Ao g' v-. mai by the interests of jBlif' o'iinnnnity. Wiioi pe.i mission to develop ■is refused no eompensation will pBhe payahle exeept in a few speeial ■cases. ■ Wheii ievelopnient is permitted iKany resahing increase in land ■value he eollected by the «State as a development chavge, ■ whi.h is payahle before develop■mem aarried out. Any in[■crease in value which aecures ■withoy development will remain ■with die owner. B Value of Present lTse Hc I'llYf •>;' ihese threc provisions ^■togetht'r > flint the market value ■of :be ■-••ti will he reduced ■ liroaiily i > ihe value attributable ■io i'.s vo'. -ent use. Landowners ■ivill th. s lose their development ■vaiu.'s 5 nu.iediately, and the Bill ■provi f.-r pavmer.t :•> them »n ■ ti;i ae.--.mi. ■ A ■ •!'• land board will he ■ cstakli-' ■ with the prime duty 1 ■nf vtille. ti;, i and realloeating de- ■ vHwwer . harges. B Increnient to State Blie (J.tv.-v; ijt's view is that ■ ••»«: ;• i; ».• aotivities increase Bexist'.n. of land the better■t shir.il.l i-ulieeted !>y the State ■cad ,.f -i hndowner, and ;hat ■ers V.ln. . e the development ■o thiwiuu ihe bill are not entitled ■ompt.. as a legral right, says

ihe White Paper aecompanying the 1 and Bill. The Government, however, recogui -es that if no payments are made, i;. rdship eould he caused to many who a 'orired land in the expeetation of dxvelopment. A eapital sum of 'hC.OOO.COO therefore, will he made •ivailahle to meet elaims for paymer.t i'liule to the Central Land Board. The etfect of the development eharge system will be that land hought for development will change hands at about its face value for the existing use. The purchaser in reckoning how :nuch he can atford to pay will take ir to aecount what he will have to '.•v to the Central Land Board. In tr.fal he will pay no more than he v.ould pay at present. but instead of naying all to the owner he will pay part to the owner and part to the Central Land Board. Only Few Affected Reuter's lobbyist says the bill will not toueh the aVerage person. It is i tficially ealeulated that 85 per eent. f houses and other properties in the Cnited Kingdom are not involved be- . ause they are not conrected with development projects. "While taking away from owners he development value of their land he bill leaves them its existing value," the winter eontinues. "Farm;'s can continue farming and the orlearv householder can continue his •mai life. The position of the priv.i.e land developer is also rnehanged mept that he will have to pay a prosvtion of the priee of land as a . • e ve 1 o p m en t c harge . "The Bill does not inlerfere with a person selling his house at profit, as no development is inwlved.- The house is changing sands, but its use m not changed. "This eompensation and be ter- : i nl problem has been regarded as ihe great ohstacle. Onee it is out of he way, the new planning system can ■ • alma 1. This provides that loeal h'.nning authorities will have to subtnit- development sthemes wii'chin :hiee years. These plans will be re- \ icwed every five years. County couneils for the first time are given lij eet planning .funetions."