An independent Panel conducted an eight week Public Examination into the Plan (May-July 2007). The Panel consisted of Chairman Proffessor Stephen Crow, Inspector John Mattocks, Transport Assessor Jack Moffett and three planning officers. Their report was subsequently published on 28 November 2007. Click here to view the RSS Panel report.
What is the East Midlands Plan?
The Draft East Midlands Plan is the Regional Spatial Strategy for the East Midlands (RSS) providing a broad development strategy for the East Midlands up to 2026. It is divided into two parts, the main region-wide policies and Sub-Regional Strategies.
Part 1 (Regional Strategy) is divided into three sections:
Section 1 (Core Strategy): This sets the regional plan firmly within the framework of the region’s Integrated Regional Strategy, and outlines 10 Regional Core Objectives in Policy 1. These establish the context for the delivery of sustainable development in the region.
Section 2 (Spatial Strategy): This is based on a revised approach to ‘development form’, providing the framework for meeting the region’s development needs in a way that promotes a more sustainable pattern of development.
The Spatial Strategy outlines regional priorities for both urban and rural communities. It defines the designations of five Principal Urban Areas (PUA), three Growth Towns (in Northamptonshire) and 16 Sub-Regional Centres (SRC), and outlines priorities for their development. The strategy also contains policies in respect of the Region’s five Sub-areas. These are:
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Eastern Sub-area
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Northern Sub-area
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Peak Sub-area
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Southern Sub-area
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Three Cities Sub-area
Section 3 (Topic Based Priorities): These cover a series of topic specific policies, including the Regional Transport Strategy. Also covered are:
Housing: This proposes new housing provision figures as annual build rates for the period 2001-26 covering the whole region including the Growth Area provision in Northamptonshire. The draft figures provide for 20,418 houses per year.
Existing RSS: 15,925 per year
Current 5 year Build Rate: 17,349 per year
Government Trend Figure: 19,524 per year
Proposed Provision: 20,418 per year
Housing provision figures are provided both by Housing Market Area grouping, and District Council Areas. Also included are targets for affordable housing (32 per cent) and development on brownfield land (60 per cent). Targets are also provided for accommodation for gypsies and travellers. The impact of proposed New Growth Points in various locations across the Region is also considered.
Economy and Regeneration: Based on the revised Regional Economic Strategy produced by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda), this also includes revised policies on employment land and town centres which have been informed by recent independent research, and a new policy on casino development.
Natural and Cultural Resources: Contains revised targets for biodiversity, waste reduction and management, renewable energy and energy efficiency and regional policies for protecting and enhancing the natural and historic environments, managing flood risk, mineral extraction and promoting ‘green infrastructure’. It also reflects the revised Regional Cultural Strategy produced by Culture East Midlands.
Regional Transport Strategy (RTS): Contains policies and proposals to help deliver the Spatial Strategy, and contribute to other regional and sub-regional priorities. The RTS aims to reduce the need to travel and the rate of traffic growth, promote a step change in the quantity and quality of public transport, and only promotes additional highway capacity when all other options have been exhausted. It has been informed by the recent process to determine regional infrastructure priorities up to 2016.
Implementation, Monitoring & Review: Contains an Implementation Framework and an updated list of Core Indicators.
Part 2: Sub-Regional Strategies
Milton Keynes South Midlands Sub-Regional Strategy contains policies and proposals for sustainable growth in Northamptonshire as part of the MKSM Growth Area. The only changes from the adopted version of the sub regional strategy relate to housing provision in North Northamptonshire for the period 2021-26, and to a process for addressing the implications of the successful legal challenge to the housing provision figure for the Northampton Implementation Area (NIA).
Three Cities Sub-Regional Strategy contains policies and proposals to create more sustainable patterns of development and movement within (and between) Derby, Leicester & Nottingham and their hinterlands, and to promote overall economic competitiveness. It also includes proposals to review of the Nottingham/Derby Green Belt.
Northern Sub-Regional Strategy contains policies and proposals to provide a clear vision for regeneration following the decline of the coal mining industry, and takes account of the delivery of the ‘Northern Way’ initiative.
Lincoln Area Sub-Regional Strategy contains policies and proposals to strengthen the regional role of Lincoln.
