Policy background Land management
Government has committed to release public land with capacity for at least 160,000 homes and raise at least £5 billion from land and property disposals over this Parliament.  Government is demonstrating its commitment to engaging with local authorities by introducing a new duty to engage.
	To incentivise public authorities to release surplus land in a timely manner, this Act introduces a new duty to report on surplus land. This is a transparency measure, ensuring that when bodies retain surplus land for a specified period that they publish details, including their reasons for retaining that land.
	The Act builds on existing powers contained in the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 for the Secretary of State to direct a body to dispose of land under certain circumstances.  The Act makes provision for this power to be exercised under a broader set of circumstances.
	The Climate Change Act 2008 requires the Minister for Cabinet Office to publish an annual report on the efficiency and sustainability of the central civil estate.  The Act applies similar requirements in respect of local government buildings and military estate buildings.  Such reports will set out the progress made by the reporting body on reducing the size of its estate, and its performance on sustainability of its buildings.