This is basically how the UK always was. You also can't legally carry knives in public unless you're moving house or coming home from the knife store.
Note that all this refers to big knives, not pocket knives with short blades, which are still completely legal to carry on you without needing any justification.
Seems very reasonable to me. As a result, contrary to the myths, and in spite of guns not being available for attacks, we actually have a fairly low rate of actual knife murder; slightly less than that of the US, I believe.