Localism Bill update and possible timescale

The Localism Bill has completed its passage through Parliament after MPs voted to accept all the amendments made by peers in the House of Lords. No further amendments were made to the bill. 

The planning press reports:

'During the report stage of the bill in the House of Lords the government tabled a new amendment to the bill intended to ease fears that a controversial clause could undermine the long-held principle that planning permission cannot be "bought". 

Other changes to the bill during its passage through the Lords included an amendment requiring business-led forums to take account of an area's social, economic and environmental wellbeing and the removal of a flagship provision that would have allowed voters to trigger non-binding referendums on any subject. 

Experts believe that the bill could now receive Royal Assent - and become the Localism Act - as soon as next week."