Regional Spatial Strategy

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Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS) provide a regional level planning framework for the regions of England, outside London where spatial planning is the responsibility of the Mayor. They are not prepared in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland as planning is a devolved power. Wales has a Wales Spatial Plan which is an equivalent in some respects.

RSS emerged from the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 which abolished Structure Plans, and replaced Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) with RSS which is now the strategic level plan charged with informing Local Development Frameworks (LDFs). These must be in ‘general conformity’ with an RSS, which is a statutory, legal document. They are produced by the eight English Regional Assemblies.

Planning Policy Statement 11: Regional Spatial Strategies commonly abbreviated as PPS 11, is a document produced by the British Government and sets out the procedural policy on the nature of RSSs and focuses on what should happen in preparing revisions to them and explains how this relates to the Act and associated regulations. The current version was introduced in September 2004.

1 Objectives of RSS
2 Process
3 Current practice
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Objectives of RSS

Regional Spatial Strategies are expected to:

establish a ‘spatial’ vision and strategy specific to the region - for example, identifying in general terms areas for development or regeneration for a period of about 20 years ahead
contribute to the achievement of sustainable development
establish regionally specific policies, which are expected to add to rather than replicate national ones
address regional or sub-regional issues that may cross county, unitary authority or district boundaries
outline housing figures for district and unitary authorities to take forward in their LDFs
establish priorities for environmental protection and enhancement, and define the ‘general extent' of areas of green belt
produce a regional Transport Strategy as part of the wider spatial strategy
outline key priorities for investment, particularly in infrastructure, and identify delivery mechanisms, in order to support development
identify how the region's waste should be dealt with
be consistent with and supportive of other regional frameworks and strategies.

They are each subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment.

[edit] Process

RSS are prepared by the relevant Regional Planning Body (RPB), in the form of the Regional Assembly, and are then submitted to the Secretary of State. Once the RPB has prepared a draft RSS, it publishes it for at least 12 weeks public consultation.

Following public consultation, an Examination in Public is held to debate and test the RPB’s proposals. A Panel formed by the Planning Inspectorate - independent of the RPB 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 RSS 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’.^[1]

Local authorities then prepare Local Development Documents, which are consistent with the Regional Spatial Strategy, identifying specific locations for development and conservation, and establishing local policies for managing development.

[edit] Current practice

By the end of 2006 there were 5 revised RSS submitted to the Secretary of State although most of these were in effect updates to RPGs than 'true' RSSs. The East of England's RSS was the first RSS proper to have been submitted and has been marred by political wranglings over housing numbers and transport infrastructure. ^[2] In other regions, Examinations in Public were held in 2006 and 2007. The Panel's reports on each of these have been published, and in some cases proposed changes to the RSS have been subject to public consultation. Up-to-date information on the progress of each RSS can be obtained from the Planning Portal website.