RSS Revision Phase Three
Overview
When the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (WMRSS) was published in June 2004, the Secretary of State supported the principles of the strategy but suggested that several issues needed to be developed further. This Revision process is being undertaken in three phases.
Phase Three Revision
Issues being considered in the WMRSS Phase Three Revision are:
- Rural Services: Identification and provision of services that are critical to the sustainability of rural communities
- Housing: Provision of pitches and plots for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople
- Culture, Sport and Tourism: Strengthen RSS policies to support cultural, sport and tourism needs of the Region
- Environment: Update existing Quality of Environment policies in the RSS and consider the need for new policies related to flood risk, renewable energy and Green Belt
- Minerals: Safeguarding minerals and examining future supply of aggregates
The first stage of the WMRSS Phase Three Revision was the publication of a Project Plan which set out the issues to be covered in the Revision. A copy of the Project Plan is available below. Following this, because there were a number of choices as to the nature and content of new or revised policies, an Options document was issued for consultation which identified those choices and the consequences of adopting them. Consultation on the Options took place between 29th June and 14th August 2009 and attracted 442 responses. The final report analysing the consultation responses is available here.
The Way Forward
In July 2007, the Government published a Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration. Among other things, the Government proposes to bring together the Regional Spatial Strategies and the Regional Economic Strategies into a single Regional Strategy for each of the English regions.
In the light of these legislative changes, there was a "stocktake" meeting in September 2009 involving officers from the Assembly, Government Office West Midlands (GOWM) and Advantage West Midlands to consider how the WMRSS Phase Three workstreams can be taken forward in the most effective way. It was agreed at that meeting that the Phase Three issues should be progressed through the new Regional Strategy process rather than through the WMRSS Phase Three Revision.
It was agreed that the Phase Three issues be taken forward in one of two ways:
a) Policy Statements which will provide a framework for relevant policies in the preparation of Local Development Frameworks. Two Policy Statements will be developed which cover:
Policy StatementsCommunities for the Future |
- Provision of pitches for Gypsies & Travellers and Travelling Showpeople
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Minerals |
- Sub-Regional Apportionment of Construction Aggregates
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GOWM have confirmed that they expect local authorities to give the Policy Statements similar weight to that of a submitted draft RSS. Also Policy Statements will carry weight in relation to Development Plan Document examinations and planning inquiries.
b) Policy Recommendations which will feed directly into the preparation of the new Regional Strategy. The majority of issues within the Phase Three Options document will be progressed in this manner as are listed in the table below:
Proposed Policy RecommendationsRural Services
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Culture, Sport & Tourism
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- Culture & Sport - including relevant historic environment issues
- Tourism - including relevant historic environment issues
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Quality of the Environment
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- Integrated Approach to Management of Environmental Resources
- Restoring Degraded Areas & Managing & Creating High Quality New Environments
- Greenery, Urban Green Space and Public Spaces
- Protection & Enhancement of Historic Environment
- Conservation, Enhancement & Restoration of the Region's Landscape
- Protecting, Managing & Enhancing Region's Biodiversity & Nature Conservation Resources
- Forestry & Woodlands
- Protection of Agricultural Land
- Air Quality
- Energy Efficiency
- Renewable Energy - Targets
- Renewable Energy - Criteria for Ensuring Appropriate Locations
- Positive Uses of Green Belt
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Minerals
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- Safeguarding Mineral Resources
- Future Brick Clay Provision
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It has been agreed that all Phase Three work will be "banked" and counted as part of the preparation process for the new Regional Strategy. Following the publication of the WMRSS Phase Two EiP Panel Report, it now seems likely that "Water Environment" and "Flood Risk" will be incorporated as part of the Phase Two Revision. The WMRSS Phase Two Proposed Changes are due for publication by end of 2009. It should be noted that existing policies in the WMRSS will remain in place until incorporated or replaced by a new Regional Strategy.
Phase Three Revision Timetable
Progress on the emerging Policy Statements and Policy Recommendations will be reported through, and approved by, the existing Regional Planning Body arrangements (RPEE and Assembly Board) and the new regional arrangements - the Joint Strategy and Investment Board (JSIB) and the West Midlands Leaders Board (WMLB).
Work on developing the Policy Statements and Recommendations is progressing with a view to final sign-off by the JSIB at its meeting on 3rd March 2010. Policy Statements and Policy Recommendations will be tested through relevant appraisal and assessment processes (Sustainability Appraisal, Habitats Regulations Assessment and Rural Proofing) to provide rigour and weight to the final outputs.
There will be technical consultation with Local Authorities and WMRSS Reference Groups in the preparation of the Policy Statements and Policy Recommendations.
Project Plan:
The first stage of the Revision process started with the preparation of the Draft Project Plan which was issued for consultation in November 2007 and published in its final format in May 2009. The Project Plan sets out what elements of the RSS will be revised, how partners and the public can get involved, what timetable will be worked to, what technical work will be undertaken, and how the Revision will be aligned with other regional strategies. The Project Plan can be downloaded below:
- Project Plan
- Project Plan Leaflet
- Responses to Draft Project Plan
Options Consultation:
As there are likely to be a number of choices as to the nature and content of new or revised policies, an Options document was issued for consultation on 29th June 2009 to identify those choices and the consequences of adopting them. At the Options stage, policies are not fixed and everybody had a chance to comment before a Preferred Option is developed (see below).The RSS Phase Three Options consultation closed on Friday 14th August 2009.
Copies of the full RSS Phase Three Revision Options consultation document and related documents can be downloaded from the links below:
Options Consultation Document and Questionnaire:
- Options Consultation Document
- Questionnaire (Word Version)
- Summary Leaflet
To accompany the Options consultation document there were also Background Technical Reports for each of the five topics considered in the Phase Three Revision. These provided more information and detail about the matters being examined in the Revision. Copies of the Background Technical Reports can be downloaded from the links below:
Options Consultation - Background Papers:
A short dvd titled "Somewhere To Live" was been produced to accompany the consultation relating to provision for gypsy and traveler sites. A copy of the dvd is available on request from the Regional Assembly.
Appraisals and Assessments:
At all stages in the RSS Phase Three Revision, a Sustainability Appraisal will be undertaken to look at the environmental, economic and social effects of the emerging and revised policies. A Habitat Regulations Assessment will also ensure that policies do not adversely affect European habitat sites within the West Midlands. In addition, Rural Proofing will be carried out to ensure that the needs of rural areas are adequately considered.
Copies of all the Appraisal and Assessment reports for the Options consultation can be downloaded via:
Sub-Regional Apportionment of Aggregates in the West Midlands
The Regional Assembly (as the Regional Planning Body) are responsible for apportioning the Government's regional guidelines for the provision of aggregates for the period 2005-2020.
If you would like to join our consultation database and be kept updated on progress with the RSS Revision then please email your contact details to wmrss@wmra.gov.uk.
If you have any queries or questions related to WMRSS Phase Three Revision please contact David Clarke on 0121 678 1023 or at d.clarke@wmra.gov.uk.