Regional Spatial Strategy

Revocation of Regional Strategies

On the 6th July 2010 the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced the revocation of regional strategies (including Regional Spatial Strategies) with immediate effect. Information regarding the RSS and background work will remain on these web pages as an archive for the time being. The letters sent to Chief Planning Officers regarding the revocation are available below:

• Letter from the Secretary of State
• Guidance for Local Authorities

 

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The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act came into effect on 28 September 2004 and made the change from a system of Regional Planning Guidance (RPG)| and Structure Plans| to one of Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS).  All development documents produced by local authorities must be in conformity with the RSS. 

The Government is keen to move over to the new system as quickly as possible but recognises during this transitional period, that there is a need to maintain continuity in the development plans system.  Therefore, at commencement of the Act, the latest version of RPG, as issued by the Secretary of State, was given statutory force.  RPG10 now constitutes the regional planning document of the South West during the transitional period while revision is made to RSS.

 

As a strategic planning authority, Bournemouth Borough Council has been involved in producing the South East Dorset Strategy|, a sub regional joint study which has been used by the Regional Assembly to inform preparation and production of the Draft RSS.

For more information, see the Sub Regional Planning and Joint Study Areas| page.

 

The Draft RSS for the South West has been submitted to the Secretary of State by the Regional Assembly and underwent public consultation June-August 2006.  The Draft RSS and associated documents, which include a Strategic Sustainability Assessment, can be viewed on the South West Regional Assembly (SWRA)| website.

 

An Examination in Public (EiP) took place between 17th April and 6th July 2007 to discuss and test the strategy and any representations received. For more information on this, visit the South West EiP| website.

Panel Report

The panel's report into the Draft RSS was published on 10th January 2008. The recommendations are made in the Report of the Panel| submitted to the Secretary of State.

 

Regional Spatial Strategy Proposed Changes

The Secretary of State has now published Proposed Changes to the draft Regional Spatial Strategy.  The documents for consultation and all supporting documents including the Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulation Assessment are available on the Government Office for the South West website|

For more information, see the RSS Proposed Changes| page.

 

The RSS was expected to be published at the end of June 2009.  Unfortunately because of a recent High Court judgement on the East of England RSS publication has been delayed until the implications of this decision on the SW RSS have been considered.  Unfortunately it is not possible to estimate how long any delay is likely to be until the written judgement has been studied.

For more Information

For further information on the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), contact the South West Councils (SWC) at:

 

Dennett House
Middle Street
Taunton
TA1 1SH

Telephone Us  (01823) 270101

Email Us  info@swcouncils.gov.uk|

 

Or visit the South West Councils' website|.