Regional Planning Guidance/Regional Spatial Strategy
Regional Planning Guidance (now known as Regional Spatial Strategy) helps deliver the Government's Communities Plan objectives that our communities:
are economically prosperous
have decent homes at affordable prices
safeguard the countryside
enjoy a well designed, accessible and pleasant living and working environment; and
are effectively and fairly governed with a strong sense of community.
The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) 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.
It forms part of the key development plan for the purposes of determining planning applications in the South West and has statutory force under the new Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act.
The current Regional Spatial Strategy is Regional Planning Guidance 10 (RPG10) published in 2001.
Other Regional Planning Team work areas include:
- ensuring consistency between RPG (and the new RSS as it emerges) and other relevant strategies for the South West such as the Regional Housing Strategy, the Regional Economic Strategy and Sustainable Development Framework
- working with the planning casework area teams to ensure that development plans are consistent with Government policy
- carrying out research, either by ourselves or using consultants, and providing information on regional planning for Ministers, office colleagues, other organisations and the public
- promoting understanding of Government planning policy by explaining policy at public events and when we take part in meetings with colleagues in the region
advising the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the suitability of projects proposed by regional partners concerning planning that seeks European funding.
