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The long-delayed Decentralisation and Localism Bill will be introduced on Monday, the government has confirmed.
Communities secretary Eric Pickles used Twitter to announce that the legislation, initially expected a month ago, would be presented to Parliament on Monday.
He tweeted: "Localism Bill will be introduced next Monday. Lots of power to councils."
The Bill follows on from the coalition programme which committed the government to devolve greater powers to councils and neighbourhoods and give local communities control over housing and planning decisions.
It will cover social housing reform, the devolution of power from central government to local authorities, the new planning system, and reform of the housing revenue account.
Originally due to be published on November 22, the Bill was then postponed until early December due to a lack of parliamentary time.
Monday's Order Paper confirms the first reading of a Bill that will be presented to Parliament with no debate or decision.
During questions on upcoming parliamentary business, shadow Commons leader Hilary Benn criticised the delay in the publication, asking Sir George Young to tell the House when it would appear.
"Having searched high and low for this shy and retiring Bill, I can find no sign of it," Benn said.
In response, the Commons leader admitted the "gestation period for the Localism Bill has been a little longer than anticipated".
"It is now being delivered at high speed to the parliamentary birth centre by the secretary of state for communities and local government," he added.
"As I said last week, I hope that it will be before the House well before Christmas."
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