The Government has announced that regional development agency land and property assets will be transferred to the Homes & Communities Agency on 19 September.
DBIS said the HCA would receive the assets under the Housing & Regeneration Act 2008 and "local partners will act as stewards, providing advice to the HCA".
The exact meaning of "local partners" is not wholly clear, but what is clear is that their role will be limited to trying to influence the HCA's decision making.
"Through local enterprise partnerships, the Regional Growth Fund and enterprise zones, we are putting in place an efficient and locally driven model of regional economic development that ensures government support goes to where it can have most impact," said business minister Mark Prisk.
The Government has already made clear that if local authorities want RDA assets they will have to pay for them, despite its stated commitment to localism.
"Our plans mean local partners will be able to work with the HCA to influence the development of the land and property assets previously owned by the RDAs, ensuring the economic and regeneration benefits have the best possible impact in their areas," explained communities minister Lady Hanham.
DBIS said the HCA would fully develop the assets in a way that would help economic growth and regeneration and would set up committees from local business, local enterprise partnerships, councils etc..
"This will allow local communities to influence the development of local assets," it said.
It also proposes a contract with the Agency to manage three of its technology parks: Ansty Park in Coventry, the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham and S Park in Bristol.
The HCA will manage the sites and their future development because of their national importance, says DBIS.
