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Regional Planning

Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS)
Under the revised planning system, the role of regional planning has become more important. The West Midlands Regional Assembly (WMRA) acting as the regional planning body, now has the responsibility of preparing the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS). The RSS will guide the growth and development of the region over the next two decades up to 2026.

When it was adopted in 2004, the RSS became part of the statutory Development Plan for the region, which means all local planning authorities in the West Midlands need to ensure all their planning documents conform to policies in the RSS.

Revisions to the RSS
Although the RSS was adopted in 2004, it was agreed that the document would need to go through a process of revision so as to fully meet the requirements of the new planning system. The Government therefore set out the need for an early partial revision of the RSS to be carried out by the WMRA in three phases:

• phase 1 - the Black Country Study, assessing opportunities and capacity for growth and development in the Black Country sub-region;
• phase 2 - development of a broad range of polices for housing, employment, waste management, transport infrastructure including airport facilities and the planning and management of strategic town and city centres;
• phase 3 - development of a broad range of policies to support both the objectives of Phase 2 and an integrated programme of regeneration and renewal in the major urban areas and shire counties of the region.

Phase 1 of this partial revision has already been undertaken and phase 2 commenced early in 2006. In carrying out these different phases, the Regional Assembly consulted the strategic planning authorities in the Region with a set of issues and questions. These strategic authorities are known as Section 4(4) authorities and incorporate all unitary and county councils, including Shropshire County Council.

West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy - Phase Two Revision - Spatial Options Consultation:
8th January - 5th March 2006
"Where, What and How Many"
The Spatial Options will set out a wide range of questions and choices relating to the development of the Region up to 2021 and beyond. Answers to these questions will go a long way to deciding what sort of West Midlands we will have in twenty year's time. For more details click on the link below.