Department for Communities and Local Government
In May 2006 the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government took over responsibility from the Deputy Prime Minister for setting national policy on housing, planning, regeneration, equality and community cohesion. It is responsible for the Government’s agenda to reduce race inequalities and tackle discrimination. It also deals with legislation on racial and religious issues as well as equality policy relating to gender, sexual orientation and faith communities.
See also the government equalities office at: http://www.equalities.gov.uk/
The Neighbourhood Renewal Team in the Government Office for London is responsible for regeneration programmes including New Deal for Communities, Local Strategic Partnerships and the Safer and Stronger Communities Fund and Take Part a national programme, run at the local level, which aims to give people the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to have more of a say about what happens in their areas, and to help shape the decisions that affect their daily lives.
The Mayor of London’s ‘London Plan’ must fit within the framework of national planning policies and the Secretary of State has the power to make amendments to the London Plan to protect national or broader regional interests. The Secretary of State also sets out the criteria on which planning applications should be referred to the Mayor. The Government has strict guidelines that are issued to boroughs on the amount of affordable housing they allow to be built within their boroughs and the monitoring of the ‘Decent Homes’ standard.
There is a designated Minister with responsibility for London issues:
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government – John Denham
Department for Communities and Local Government
Eland House
Bressenden Place
London SW1E 5DU
Telephone: 0303 444 0000
(An enquiry officer will call you back the same day or the next working day)
email: contactus@communities.gov.uk
