The Localism Act contains wide-ranging reforms aimed at devolving power. Among them are significant changes to planning, including: the abolition of regional spatial strategies the duty to co-operate in relation to sustainable development the use of the Community Infrastructure Levy neighbourhood planning, enforcement and infrastructure projects. In this book, two leading planning lawyers lend their combined experience and insight to the task of bringing these reforms into focus for practitioners, and in particular: outlining the context of the Act and, broadly, the political concept of localism clarifying the powers of local authorities, their liabilities and the opportunities for community involvement providing an expert and detailed analysis of each planning related provision summarising the non-planning matters, such as housing and council tax, and London planning matters The authors conclude their commentary on the Act with a discussion of the key parts of the National Planning Policy Framework, which is central to the implementation and understanding of the Localism Act 2011.This book will be essential reading for planning and property lawyers, town planners, planning consultants, and local authorities.