Overview

Regional policy on planning for housing is expressed through Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS) These are prepared by Regional Assemblies (made up of representatives of local interests and indirectly elected Councillors) and serviced by a team of professionals – called the Regional Planning Body. (In London the situation is different with the London Plan – a sustainable development strategy – being prepared by the Greater London Authority and the Mayor). The RSS is finally approved by central Government. Also see resources.

The regional level of planning is the level at which housing numbers are decided and allocated to the local level and at which the impact of housing on the environment, on resources (such as water supply) and on infrastructure (such as roads and health care) is assessed. It is, therefore, very important for communities to get involved at this level – however remote it may seem.

There are other relevant regional strategies including the Regional Housing Strategy, which is meant to be integrated with the RSS, and the Regional Economic Strategy and the Regional Transport Strategy. In 2010, the system is due to change with an Integrated Regional Strategy to be prepared by the Regional Development Agency under the guidance of a new Local Authority Leaders’ Board.

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Role of RSS

The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) is designed to provide a broad development strategy for the region for the next fifteen to twenty years. The Government advises that the following matters should be taken into account:

• The scale and distribution of provision for new housing;
• Priorities for the environment, such as countryside and biodiversity protection; and
• Transport, infrastructure, economic development, agriculture, minerals extraction and waste treatment and disposal.

For housing, the RSS contains policies setting out housing targets for the region as a whole and, in some cases for sub-regions. It then allocates these figures to individual local authorities in the region. It will contain policies on the levels of affordable housing needed and will assess whether the region’s infrastructure and resources are sufficient to accommodate the levels of growth proposed. In some regions, it may look at areas where housing markets are failing.

The overall figures for housing are meant to closely reflect targets set by Government at national level and the key debates in any RSS will focus on the robustness of the growth forecasts, the relationship between housing and economic development, the impact of additional housing on climate change and the region’s overall ability to accommodate housing numbers.

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Sub-Regions

There is currently no statutory sub-regional tier of planning although this is being given greater emphasis with, for example, a much greater focus on planning for the major city regions such as Leeds and Sheffield and the encouragement of joint working between local planning authorities to produce joint plans.

Housing markets will most usually be identified at the sub-regional level. Specific Government action to tackle particularly week housing markets is taking place in nine sub-regions in the North and Midlands of England. These ‘Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders’ are taking a range of social, economic and physical measures to revive areas.

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Your opportunity

There are a number of points at which communities are formally encouraged to get involved in the regional planning process. These are set out below – using current Government guidance from

Community groups are encouraged to approach the regional planning body to seek funding for their involvement in the regional planning process as the Government has advised these bodies that they may ‘wish to consider whether there is any scope for it or other stakeholders to provide financial support to community and voluntary groups to assist their ability to participate in the process.’

1. Statement of Public Participation
The Regional Planning Body (RPB) has a duty to publish a statement of public participation setting out how it is going to involve all those with an interest throughout the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) revision process.

2. Communicating the issues
Once the RPB has identified a preliminary list of issues to be covered by the draft revision … then the community should be provided with an opportunity to comment.

3. Community involvement in developing options and policies
As soon as decisions have been taken on which is the favoured option, then the RPB will be able to prepare draft policies. The RPB should promote involvement in these policies as they emerge.

4. Submitting the draft RSS revision to the Secretary of State
When the RPB sends the draft RSS to the Secretary of State it is also required to send to the Secretary of State a ‘presubmission consultation statement’. It must also set out how the public participation statement has been followed in practice.

5. Community participation and the submitted draft RSS revision
The submission of the draft RSS revision to the Secretary of State triggers the formal consultation process.... all bodies and people who in the opinion of the RPB may wish to make representations, must be sent the information necessary to enable them to make informed representations.

6. Community involvement at the Examination-in-Public
The examination-in-public (EiP) provides invited members of the community with an opportunity to make their case to an independent panel.

7. Community involvement after the Examination-in-Public
Publication of the Secretary of State’s proposed changes and reasoned statement, following the Panel’s report, provides a further window for involvement. The Regulations provide for a consultation period of at least eight weeks from the date of publication and all those who have previously been consulted on the draft RSS revision or made representations must be invited to comment

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Copies of the Regional Spatial Strategy

The current Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) and the report of the panel of the Examination in Public of the RSS will be found on the website of the relevant Government Office for the Regions. Any drafts of alterations to the RSS and copies of background papers will be found on the websites of the relevant Regional Assembly. Under new Government proposals, regional planning for housing is due to be taken over by Regional Development Agencies in 2010. All these sets of websites correspond to the nine regions in England.

Eastern England
Government office: www.gos.gov.uk/goeast/
Regional Assembly: www.eera.gov.uk/
Regional Development Agency: www.eeda.org.uk/

East Midlands
Government office: www.gos.gov.uk/goem/
Regional Assembly: www.emra.gov.uk/
Regional Development Agency: www.emda.org.uk/main/

London
Government office: www.gos.gov.uk/gol/
Regional Assembly: www.london.gov.uk/
Regional Development Agency: www.lda.gov.uk/

North East
Government office: www.gos.gov.uk/gone/
Regional Assembly: www.northeastassembly.gov.uk/
Regional Development Agency: www.onenortheast.co.uk/

North West
Government office: www.gos.gov.uk/gonw/
Regional Assembly: www.nwrpb.org.uk/
Regional Development Agency: www.nwda.co.uk/

South East
Government office: www.gos.gov.uk/gose/
Regional Assembly: www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/
Regional Development Agency: www.seeda.co.uk/

South West
Government office: www.gos.gov.uk/gosw/
Regional Assembly: www.southwest-ra.gov.uk/
Regional Development Agency: www.southwestrda.org.uk/

West Midlands
Government office: www.gos.gov.uk/gowm/
Regional Assembly: www.wmra.gov.uk/
Regional Development Agency: www.advantagewm.co.uk/

Yorkshire and Humberside
Government office: www.gos.gov.uk/goyh/
Regional Assembly: www.yhassembly.gov.uk/
Regional Development Agency: www.yorkshire-forward.com/

Guides to the System – and to Getting Involved in it

The Handy Guide to Planning produced by Planning Aid and the Urban Forum provides a useful and accessible guide to all parts of the English planning system. As part of their Planning Pack, Planning Aid has produced a range of information sheets on regional planning issues

Planning Aid has also carried out a number of projects to support community engagement at a regional level. For example, this leaflet may give you some ideas - It’s time to Get Involved in planning the East Midlands...

Town and Country Planning Association published a study of Stakeholder Involvement in the Regional Planning Guidance Process in 2003.

Official Advice

It can be worth looking at how Regional Spatial Strategies are meant to be done and what they should contain so that you can ensure that the strategy for your region meets your approval. Be warned, however, some current official advice is dense and wordy. The key document is:

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