Latest Regional Spatial Strategy released

Peter Box, Chair of the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly, today welcomed the publication of the Yorkshire and Humber Plan.

“Many organisations and individuals across the region have put a lot of effort in to the preparation of the Plan, ‘’ he said.

“It’s important that we have an up to date plan in place to provide the long term direction for development and investment in the region.’’

And he added: “There’s no doubt the higher housing requirements for more homes in the region are challenging, which is why the Government has asked the Assembly to undertake a partial review of the Plan - to look again at housing growth.

“In addition, that mini review will also allow us to look at other, related key issues like infrastructure, transport, Eco Towns and New Growth Points.’’

Attached is a link to the relevant Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber website page on the publication: http://www.goyh.gov.uk/goyh/plan/regplan/?a=42496

Background details: Government legislation in 2004 saw Regional Planning Guidance- the framework for local authority development plans which oversee development and land use applications- replaced by a Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS). In this region, this is called the Yorkshire and Humber Plan.

The RSS will set the framework to guide and direct where and how development and investment takes place across the region. Under new planning law, it will form part of the “development plan’’ for each local authority and be taken into account in determining planning applications.

The draft RSS includes a broad strategy to shape the future development of cities, towns and villages across the region; regional priorities in terms of location and scale of development for economic development; housing; transport and communications; the environment ; tourism and leisure and urban and rural regeneration. It also includes a regional transport strategy.

As the regional planning body, the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly- the region’s strategic partnership made up of local authorities and representatives from business, education, the environment, voluntary and community organizations and other sectors- was given the task of drawing up the draft RSS by the Government .

An independent panel was then appointed to publicly test the draft RSS at an Examination in Public, held in Autumn 2006. Following that, the Government published the proposed changes to the draft Plan in September 2007. The final Plan has been published today (21 May 2008).

Note to news editors

For more details contact Iain Lovell at the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly, tel 01924 331583, e-mail iain.lovell@yhassembly.gov.uk