Regional Spatial Strategy - Practice Up To Abolition

Practice Up To Abolition

By the end of 2006 there were 5 revised RSS submitted to the Secretary of State although most of these were in effect updates to RPGs than 'true' RSSs. The East of England's RSS was the first RSS proper to have been submitted and has been marred by political wranglings over housing numbers and transport infrastructure. In other regions, Examinations in Public were held in 2006 and 2007. The Panel's reports on each of these have been published, and in some cases proposed changes to the RSS have been subject to public consultation. Up-to-date information on the progress of each RSS can be obtained from the Planning Portal website.

• In October 2008 the RSS for the Southwest Region attracted more than 40,000 objections during Public Consultation thus placing the programme for roll out into serious delay.
• By June 2009 objectors to the RSS for SE succeeded at judicial review on the basis of various aspects of incompatibility of the document with European law, particularly on issues of Sustainability and Natural amenities.
• The West Midlands RSS Phase two Revision underwent Examination in Public in summer 2009, and the panel published its report, but complications over obtaining a further impact assessment for the proposed changes meant that it was not adopted before the United Kingdom general election, 2010, and it progressed no further.