EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order commences various provisions of the Localism Act 2011 (“the Act”).

Article 2 of this Order brings into force on 9th March 2012 in relation to England and Wales sections 21 and 22, Schedules 2 and 3 and Part 4 of Schedule 25 (governance – partially). Article 3 brings into force on 30th March 2012 in relation to England and Wales, so far as they are not yet in force, section 233 and Schedule 24 (tax provisions). Article 4 brings the following provisions into force on 31st March 2012 in relation to England and Wales: section 191(1) (abolition of London Development Agency); section 195(2) and Schedule 20 (consequential amendments); section 237 and Part 32 of Schedule 25 (repeals).

Article 5 brings into force on 1st April 2012 the following provisions of the Act in relation to England so far as they are not yet in force: section 46 and Part 7 of Schedule 25 (repeal of duty relating to petitions); section 69 and Part 10 of Schedule 25 (non domestic rates: discretionary relief).

Article 6 brings into force on 1st April 2012 the following provisions of the Act in relation to England and Wales so far as they are not yet in force: section 26 and Schedule 4 (abolition of Standards Board for England); sections 154 and 155 (flexible tenancies); sections 156 to 161, 162 (partially) 163 to 166 (other provisions relating to tenancies of social housing); section 178 and Schedule 16 (transfer of functions from the Office for Tenants and Social Landlords to the Homes and Communities Agency); section 179 and Schedule 17 (regulation of social housing); section 185 (exemption from HMO licensing for buildings run by co-operatives); section 186 (removal of limitations on GLA’s general power); section 187 (new housing and regeneration functions of GLA); section 189 (modification to functions of Homes and Communities Agency) and section 195(1); Schedule 19 (consequential amendments) and Parts 26, 27 and 31 of Schedule 25 (repeals – partially).

Article 7 brings into force on 1st April 2012 the following provisions of the Act, in relation to England and Wales and, to the extent specified in section 239 of the Act and section 240(4) of the Planning Act 2008, to Scotland, so far as they are not already in force: sections 128 to 142 and Schedule 13 (nationally significant infrastructure projects); section 237 and Parts 20 and 21 of Schedule 25 (repeals relating to the Infrastructure Planning Commission and nationally significant infrastructure projects).

Article 8 brings into force on 6th April 2012 the following provisions of the Act, in relation to England and Wales, so far as they are not already in force: section 116 and Schedules 9, 10 and 11, except for the purposes of holding a neighbourhood planning referendum; section 121 and Schedule 12 (neighbourhood planning consequential amendments);sections 123 to 127 (enforcement); section 184 (tenancy deposit scheme); section 232 (compensation for compulsory acquisition); Parts 18, 19, 30 and 34 of Schedule 25 and section 237 (partially) (repeals).

Articles 9 to 20 make transitional, transitory and savings provision.