Regional planning in England
Encyclopedia
Regional planning in England was undertaken for each of the nine regions
, from the 1990s until 2010. In the eight English regions outside London, regional assemblies
were formed in 1998, and were responsible for physical planning policy through Regional Spatial Strategies
(RSS). From 1999, Regional Development Agencies
co-ordinated initiatives to improve economic development. The assemblies were effectively replaced by smaller Local Authority Leaders’ Board
s between 2008 and 2010, and formally abolished on 31 March 2010.
In June 2010, the incoming Coalition Government
announced its intentions to abolish regional spatial strategies and return spatial planning powers to local government. In March 2011, the all-party Commons Communities and Local Government Committee
published its report on the implications of the abolition of the RSS system. It stated that: "The intended abolition of regional spatial planning strategies leaves a vacuum at the heart of the English planning system which could have profound social, economic and environmental consequences set to last for many years."
These changes did not affect the directly elected London Assembly
, which was established by separate legislation as part of the Greater London Authority
.
Regions of England
In England, the region is the highest tier of sub-national division used by central Government. Between 1994 and 2011, the nine regions had an administrative role in the implementation of UK Government policy, and as the areas covered by elected bodies...
, from the 1990s until 2010. In the eight English regions outside London, regional assemblies
Regional Assemblies in England
The Regional Assemblies of England were a group of indirectly elected regional bodies established originally under the name Regional Chambers by the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998. They were abolished on 31 March 2010 and replaced by Local Authority Leaders’ Boards...
were formed in 1998, and were responsible for physical planning policy through Regional Spatial Strategies
Regional Spatial Strategy
Regional spatial strategies provided regional level planning frameworks for the regions of England outside London. They were introduced in 2004...
(RSS). From 1999, Regional Development Agencies
Regional Development Agency
In the United Kingdom, a regional development agency is a non-departmental public body established for the purpose of development, primarily economic, of one of England's Government Office regions. There is one RDA for each of the NUTS level 1 regions of England...
co-ordinated initiatives to improve economic development. The assemblies were effectively replaced by smaller Local Authority Leaders’ Board
Local Authority Leaders’ Board
Local authority leaders' boards are voluntary associations of council leaders that have been established in England following the abolition of regional assemblies established in 1998 by the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998. The establishment of the boards was part of the UK Government's...
s between 2008 and 2010, and formally abolished on 31 March 2010.
In June 2010, the incoming Coalition Government
United Kingdom coalition government (2010–present)
The ConservativeLiberal Democrat coalition is the present Government of the United Kingdom, formed after the 2010 general election. The Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats entered into discussions which culminated in the 2010 coalition agreement, setting out a programme for government...
announced its intentions to abolish regional spatial strategies and return spatial planning powers to local government. In March 2011, the all-party Commons Communities and Local Government Committee
Communities and Local Government Committee
The Communities and Local Government Select Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The remit of the Committee is to examine the work, the expenditure, administration and policies of the Department for Communities and Local Government and its...
published its report on the implications of the abolition of the RSS system. It stated that: "The intended abolition of regional spatial planning strategies leaves a vacuum at the heart of the English planning system which could have profound social, economic and environmental consequences set to last for many years."
These changes did not affect the directly elected London Assembly
London Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
, which was established by separate legislation as part of the Greater London Authority
Greater London Authority
The Greater London Authority is the top-tier administrative body for Greater London, England. It consists of a directly elected executive Mayor of London, currently Boris Johnson, and an elected 25-member London Assembly with scrutiny powers...
.