The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act strengthens the role and importance of regional planning. It replaces Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) by statutory Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs).
At commencement of Part 1 of this Act in September 2004 all existing RPG became RSSs and preparation commenced on a new RSS which is expected to be finalised at the end of 2006/ early 2007. The main principles of the new arrangements are to deliver policy better at the regional level and contribute to the culture change necessary to deliver the government's Sustainable Communities Plan.
The Regional Spatial Strategy:
- provides a spatial framework to inform the preparation of local development documents, local transport plans and regional and sub-regional strategies and programmes that have a bearing on land-use activities;
- ensures that future changes to the RSSs are produced on an inclusive basis of partnership working and community involvement;
- allows better integration with other regional strategies; and
- assists in delivering the government's statutory purpose for plan making by requiring the regional planning body (RPB) to ensure that any draft RSS revision is prepared with the objective of contributing to the achievement of sustainable development.
There is a two-way relationship between the RSS and other regional strategies such as the Regional Economic Strategy.