Government Offices | North East |

The North East of England Plan, the revised Regional Spatial Strategy, has been published today, 15 July 2008. The plan sets out a consistent framework for new developments including housing, transport, economic development and the environment, looking beyond simple land use to issues such as the quality of life and sustainable development.

Government Offices work with regional partners to develop, implement and monitor ‘Regional Spatial Strategies,’ which set out Government’s planning and transport policy for each region for a 15-20 year period. The strategies provide frameworks for determining planning applications, as well as for preparing both Local Development Documents and Local Transport Plans. More information on the national picture

Development of the Plan
Regional Planning Guidance for the North East (RPG1), which was published in 2002 became the RSS for the region in September 2004.

The North East Assembly, the Regional Planning Body, then prepared a draft revision which was submitted to the Secretary of State in June 2005 and published the following year. There then followed two rounds of consultation and an independent Examination in Public. The North East of England Plan has been finalised after changes were made to the draft in the light of careful consideration of the many responses and representations received.

The plan is a major step forward in the delivery of more affordable housing, better transport plans, and the environmental controls the region needs. and it represents a long-term vision to address housing shortages, strengthen the region's economy and tackle climate change.