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REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY

The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) applies (as the title states) to a region of England and updates and modifies the current Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) which have been in existence for some time. They establish the broad spatial requirements for the region which are interpreted and applied at the local level. One fundamental difference between the RPG and RSS is that the latter is intended to directly inform the Local Development Framework at the local authority level, rather than routing (as up to now) via the County Structure Plan, which will eventually be phased out.

‘Regional Spatial Strategies’ deal with a range of issues including:

  • The scale and distribution of new housing and employment
  • Priorities for the environment, such as countryside enhancement
  • Key infrastructure to support development
  • How waste will be dealt with

The Regional Planning Body (RPB) for each region is responsible for reviewing the ‘Regional Spatial Strategy’ and preparing draft revisions in partnership with local and regional stakeholders. Once the RPB has prepared the draft strategy, it publishes it for at least 12 weeks public consultation.

Following public consultation, an Examination in Public is held to debate and test the Regional Planning Body’s proposals. A Panel - independent of the Regional Planning Body and central Government - oversees this process.

Following the Examination in Public, the Panel prepares a report of findings and recommendations to the Government on how the draft ‘Regional Spatial Strategy’ might be improved.

The Government then issues Proposed Changes to the draft strategy, taking account of the Panel’s recommendations and representations on any matters not considered at the Examination in Public.

The Secretary of State then makes any final amendments in the light of the responses to the Proposed Changes consultation, and issues the final ‘Regional Spatial Strategy’.

Local authorities then prepare Local Development Documents, which are consistent with the ‘Regional Spatial Strategy’, identifying specific locations for development.

Legislation:-

Planning Policy Statement 11: Regional Spatial Strategies
     
See the Home Page for links to the Regional Authorities or click on REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES