What you can influence
You have the opportunity to influence what your regional spatial strategy says, what topics it covers, how it is prepared and how it is implemented.
Influence what the strategy says
Think locally
Make sure that the regional strategy is sympathetic to what you would like to see in your local area.
A strategy for such a wide area might seem a bit remote from the things you think are important locally.
Regional strategy makes a real difference, because both the policies in your local plan (or local development framework) and any major development proposals which might affect the delivery of the strategy, such as
- New airports or roads
- Large business parks
All should be in line with the strategy, and to 'be in general conformity' with it.
Remember that your local interests need to be regionally important, but what's important to you might also be important to other local people across the region.
Include what's special about the region
Decide what you want the strategy to say about the things that are special to you about your region or sub-region. Urge the planners the planning officers employed by local planning authorities or the regional planning bo, to include proposals that deal with these.
Consider current policies
Tell the planners if there are any policies in the existing regional spatial strategy that you think should be revised.
Work to improve overall quality of life
The planners might be tempted to focus on short-term targets for practical developments.
But remind them that other things are just as important, even if they are hard to measure or rely on different policies working together. These are the very things that will improve the quality of life overall.
For example
Houses being built on 'brownfield' land to protect 'greenfield' land in neighbouring areas regeneration focused around the conservation of an area that is part of the region's cultural heritage and identity.
Every (RSS) regional spatial strategy should include a target for the percentage of new housing to be built using previously developed land or empty buildings, called brownfield sites.
This target should be as high as the potential will allow and at least as high as the Government's national target of 60%.
You could also press for policies on land use and transport that minimise the need to travel, encourage the use of public transport and reduce traffic. (reference: PPS 11, paragraph 2.16)
Make the strategy sustainable
As the strategy develops, check that it is consistent with the overall vision for the region.
It should also fit with the objectives of the regional sustainable development framework for the region, the current version should be available from your Government Office or the regional assembly. (reference: PPS 11, paragraph 2.10)
If not, point out the gaps.
You might be able to use the sustainability appraisal and the strategic environmental assessment, which are now legally required, to support your point of view. (reference: PPS 11, paragraph 2.39)
Don't forget about the sub-regions
Check how the planners decide to divide up the region into sub-regional areas and how they propose to distribute the regional needs for housing and employment between them.
Challenge weak assumptions
The strategy will have a big impact on how the region looks in the future and so it should not rest on weak assumptions.
For instance, is it really the supply of land that has the biggest effect on the rate of housebuilding, or is it the state of the housing market, or land-banking by developers?
- Are claims that housing must go in the countryside justified, given the amount of derelict land in towns and what would be the social, as well as environmental, consequences of extra greenfield housing?
- Are urban capacity studies being done for the whole region; if so, are they good enough?
- Have they underestimated the capacity of brownfield to accommodate new housing?
A sound regional spatial strategy must be founded on a robust and credible evidence base. (reference: PPS11, paragraph 2.49[vi])