The Government has introduced new regulations that will allow previously dismissed proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act to be reconsidered.

The Government has also launched a consultation on whether parish and town councils should be given the power to make submissions under the legislation.

The Act allows people to submit proposals – through their local authority – to the Government asking it to remove barriers, such as planning regulations or bye-laws.

Under the new regulations, a third party ‘selector’ will be able to ask the Government to review its decision. The Department for Communities and Local Government said this would mean the Government would have to fully justify its reasons for rejecting the original proposal.

The Government will also have to consult and try and reach an agreement with the ‘selector’ before a decision is made on implementation of the proposal.

The identity of the selector is to be announced in due course. The regulations will come into force on 26 July 2012.

The DCLG insisted that the regime would be “light touch”.

Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark said: "Local people often have great ideas for their areas and are keen to improve their neighbourhoods yet are met with a plethora of rules and regulations that do nothing but stand in their way.

"Ensuring people can challenge these rules will make the Government much more accountable for the rules it implements. Government's role should always be to support local people, not stop them. 

"These new regulations help enforce that notion and put the power where it belongs, at the local level. They will help replace the implicit 'no' to improvement in our cities, towns and villages with an explicit 'yes'."

The consultation on town and parish councils will run until 5 September 2012.