Regional Planning Policy

On 6 July 2010, the Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government Eric Pickles announced the revocation of all Regional Strategies with immediate effect.

For more information visit: Letter to Chief Planning Officers - Revocation of Regional Strategies.

Therefore in practical terms, the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the East of England no longer exists and does not form part of the development plan. The strategic planning policy framework is now provided by the Structure Plan 2003 'Saved' Policies and the South Cambridgeshire Core Strategy.

Background

The Government published a Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the East of England (called the East of England Plan (This link will open in a new window)) in May 2008. The RSS replaced the previous regional planning policy for the East of England set out in RPG 6 (Regional Planning Guidance for East Anglia) and RPG 9 (Regional Planning Guidance for the South East).

The East of England Plan (May 2008) set out planning and transport policy for the region and its key sub-regions for the period up to 2021, and provided a policy framework for preparing other plans and strategies.

An early review of the East of England Plan had been started, in particular to roll forward the Plan to provide a policy framework for the period up to 2031. A draft plan was submitted to the Secretary of State on 31 March 2010.

On the 18 May 2010 the new Government issued a statement called "Building the Big Society" expressing its intention to reform the planning system. Subsequently on 25 May the Queen's Speech to Parliament included the Decentralisation and Localism Bill, which intends to 'devolve greater powers to councils and neighbourhoods and give local communities control over housing and planning decisions'.

For more information visit: Queens Speech - Decentralisation and Localism Bill (This link will open in a new window).

One of the elements of the Decentralisation and Localism Bill is the abolition of Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs). On 27 May 2010, the Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government Eric Pickles wrote to every local planning authority and the Planning Inspectorate highlighting the new Governments plans to abolish RSSs.

For more information visit: Eric Pickles Letter.

On 6 July 2010, the Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government Eric Pickles announced the revocation of all Regional Strategies with immediate effect.

For more information visit: Letter to Chief Planning Officers - Revocation of Regional Strategies.

References to Regional Spatial Strategies will remain in planning legislation until they are officially abolished with the enactment of the proposed Decentralisation and Localism Bill.