RSS Revision Phase Two

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The Assembly submitted the WMRSS Phase Two Revision draft to the Secretary of State in December 2007. An Examination in Public (EiP) into the Draft Revision took place at the Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton between April - June 2009. The Panel report is expected in autumn 2009 and further information about the EiP can be found on the PINS website.

EiP Related Assembly documents:

Below are documents prepared by the assembly to inform the EiP process (NB. The complete suite of technical work underpinning the Phase Two Revision can be found here):

• EXAM 46 - Monitoring of Climate Change
• EXAM 25 - Housing demand and need in the West Midlands: 2009 revision to regional estimates for 2006 to 2026 - Executive Summary
• EXAM 26 - Housing demand and need in the West Midlands: 2009 revision to regional estimates for 2006 to 2026 - Main Report
• CD258 - Regional Logistics Study - (updated 13/05/09)
• CD257 - Regional Centres Study - (updated 13/05/09)
• CD280 - Policy T12 Priorities for investment April 2009 (updated 11/05/09)
• CD281 - Policy T12 Priorities for investment linked to RFA schemes April 2009 (updated 11/05/09)
• CD247 - The implications of the economic downturn for regional housing targets. Ecotec. March 2009
• CD256 - Potential Affordable Housing Delivery for the West Midlands Survey of Local Authorities - Technical Appendix - 2008 - WMRA - June 2008 (updated 07/04/09).
• CD254 - Annual Monitoring Report 2008 (published February 2009) (Updated 07/04/09)
• CD253 - West Midlands Regional Carbon Dioxide Emissions Study - March 2009 (Updated 07/04/09)
• CD252 - The Impact of housing growth on public water supplies - West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS 11) - August 2008 [Brief update to CD144]. (updated 07/04/09)
• CD251 - Impact of Housing Growth on Water Supply and Water Quality at European sites - Update to information contained within the West Midlands RSS Phase Two Revision HRA - Treweek - March 2009 (added 07/04/09).
• CD255 - Low Carbon Housing - developing a baseline for refurbishment in the West Midlands - Baseline assessment of energy efficiency retrofitting in existing housing stock in the West Midlands - March 2009 (added 07/04/09).
• CD249 - Analysis of Strategic Housing Market Assessments in the West Midlands: Stage 1 Technical Report - Ecotec - January 2009 (added 07/04/09).
• CD248 - Affordability and Housing Supply: A review of the implications for the West Midlands of the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit Recommendations - Green Balance - March 2009 - (added 07/04/09)
• CD246 - The Relationship Between Housing Completions and Migration from the Metropolitan Area - March 2009 (added 07/04/09)
• CD224 - Housing Background Paper Supplement - WMRSS Phase Two Revision - Preferred Option - Communities for the Future - March 2009 (added on 27/03/09)
• CD231 - Panel Briefing Note 3: Reconciliation of NHPAU Housing Supply Range Advice to the WMRSS time period - March 2009 (added on 27/03/09)
• CD232 - Note on housing figures in SQW study prepared by WMRA and AWM - March 2009 (added on 27/03/09)
• CD234 - Migration Report for the West Midlands 2002-07 prepared by Worcestershire County Council on behalf of WMRA - March 2009 (added on 27/03/09)
• CD235 - Critique of the Habitats Regulations Assessment for the Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners housing study, Treweek Environmental Consultants. October 2008 (added on 27/03/09)
• CD236 - Review of Sustainability Appraisal of the NLP Housing Study Relating to the West Midlands RSS Phase Two Revisions - Final Report - West Midlands Regional Assembly November 2008 (added on 27/03/09)
• CD237 - Regional Flood Risk Appraisal Update February 2009 (added on 27/03/09)
• CD233 RSS Phase Two Revision Draft Implementation Plan Supplement (added on 27/03/09), including an update of regional infrastructure requirements - March 2009 (update of Appendix B of the Draft Implementation Plan, CD3)
• CD228 Updated Monitoring Framework and supporting Background Information - West Midlands Regional Assembly - 20th March 2009
• CD222 Panel Briefing Note No. 1 - March 2009 (added on 13/03/2009) The phased Revision of the WMRSS and the inter-relationship between the WMRSS Phase Two Revision Draft and WMRSS Revision Phases One and Three
• CD223 Panel Briefing Note No. 2 - March 2009 (added on 13/03/2009) Proposed Regional Governance Arrangements
• CD225 Employment Land Background Paper (Revised Version) - March 2009 (added on 12/03/2009) This revised version of the Background Paper was published in March 2009 and clarifies that the employment land figures run to 2026 and that the 5-year minimum reservoir forms part of the longer term requirements rather than an additional requirement. Changes were made mainly to paragraphs 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5 and appendices 1 and 2 to clarify these issues.

Further documents will be added once they become available.

Phase Two Consultation closed 8th December 2008

The consultation on the Regional Spatial Strategy Phase Two revision closed, at midday, on 8 December 2008. Stakeholders also had the opportunity to comment on the Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners Study on higher housing numbers for the Region commissioned by Government Office for the West Midlands (GOWM). These comments will inform the Examination in Public opening in April 2009 in front of an independent expert Panel who will report to the Minister.

The Board of the West Midlands Regional Assembly met on 3 December 2008 and agreed its response to the consultation and the housing study. The Assembly Board recognised the unusual situation of having to make representations on its own RSS Revisions, but accepted that the potential implications of the Government's housing study on the Strategy was so serious that it needed to restate the Assembly's original position on the Regional Strategy. The Assembly's consultation response can be downloaded here.

Following the 8 December 2008 the chairman of the Regional Assembly wrote to the Minister of State for Housing and Planning regarding the RSS Phase Two Revision the letter can be downloaded here. For clarity this is not part of the Assembly's formal submission.

Submission of WMRSS Phase Two Revision Draft

The West Midlands Regional Assembly presented a Draft Revision to the Secretary of State on the 21st December 2007. Please note that following the submission the formal consultation has been extended and will run from 7th January 2008 to 12pm noon on 8th December 2008. The following documents were submitted and are available for consultation.

1. WMRSS Phase Two Revision - Draft Submission
2. WMRSS Phase Two Revision - Overview Phase Two Revision
3. WMRSS Phase Two Revision - Draft Implementation Plan
4. WMRSS Phase Two Revision - Sustainability Appraisal: Non Technical Summary
5. WMRSS Phase Two Revision - Pre-submission Consultation Statement

There is a significant amount of supporting technical work which was carried out durung preparation of the Phase Two Revision.

What happens next?

All consultation responses received will now be considered by the independent EiP panel.

Details of the Examination in Public

An independent Examination in Public (EiP) on the key issues raised by the public consultation will take place in 2009. The date and venue for the EiP are to be confirmed and details will be made available on this website and on www.go-wm.gov.uk.

Submission Documents

WMRSS Phase Two Revision - Draft Revision Matters

• Draft Revision Matters, December 2007

WMRSS Phase Two Revision - Draft Submission

• Cover, Preface and Contents
• Chapter 1 "Introduction" & Chapter 2 "Towards a More Sustainable Region
• Chapter 3 "The Spatial Strategy for the Development of the West Midlands"
• Chapter 4 "Urban Renaissance" & Chapter 5 "Rural Renaissance"
• Chapter 6 "Communities for the Future"
• Chapter 7 "Prosperity for All" - Part 1
• Chapter 7 "Prosperity for All" - Part 2
• Chapter 8 "Quality of the Environment" - Part 1
• Chapter 8 "Quality of the Environment" - Part 2
• Chapter 8 "Quality of the Environment" - Part 3
• Chapter 9 "Transport and Accessibility" - Part 1
• Chapter 9 "Transport and Accessibility" - Part 2
• Chapter 10 "Implementation and Monitoring"
• Annexes

WMRSS Phase Two Revision - Overview Phase Two Revision

• Overview, December 2007

WMRSS Phase Two Revision - Draft Implementation Plan

• Draft Implementation Plan

WMRSS Phase Two Revision - Sustainability Appraisal: Non Technical Summary

• Sustainability Appraisal

WMRSS Phase Two Revision - Pre-submission Consultation Statement

• Pre-submission Consultation Statement

Submission letter to the Secretary of State

• Submission Letter to the Secretary of State, Hazel Blears MP

WMRSS Phase Two Revision - Consultation Response Form

• Consultation Response Form

Supporting Technical Work

A significant amount of technical work has been carried out in preparing the Phase Two Revision.

Details of where submission documents can be viewed

If you would like to view the draft policies and supporting documents, hard copies are available for inspection in all main libraries and Local Planning Authority offices across the Region, see the following list:

• List of Libraries and Local Planning Authority Offices

* Please note Cofton Hackett Library, Barnt Green - is Closed until further notice

Government Office for the West Midlands Housing Study

Following the WMRA submission draft in December 2007 the GOWM commissioned a study into options for delivering higher housing numbers. The study was carried out by planning consultants, Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners (NLP), and the final report was published on 7th October 2008 . GOWM have made the study available for more Info.

Further RSS Revision Phase Two Information

To view the Press Release for the extension to the consultation period to the 8th December 2008
To view the Press Release for the extension to consultation period.
To view Baroness Andrews' response to the Assembly's response.
To view the Assembly's response to Baroness Andrews' letter.
To view the letter received from Baroness Andrews.
To view the Assembly's Press Release in response to the letter from Baroness Andrews.

If you require further information on Phase Two Revision please contact John Pattinson, Tel: 0121 678 1041 or Stefan Preuss, Tel: 0121 678 1018