The Regional Spatial Strategy Partial Review

On 7th November 2005 the West Midlands Regional Assembly (WMRA) commenced a partial review of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS).  The purpose of the RSS is to guide the preparation of local authority development plans and local transport plans.  In Malvern Hills District, the RSS is a statutory plan, which along with the Local Plan, has ‘development plan’ status. This means the RSS has to be taken into account not just in considering planning applications within the District, but also in setting the land use policy direction for the District, currently up to 2021.

Amongst many land use issues which will be addressed, importantly, the RSS review will lead to detailed housing and employment requirements being established for Malvern Hills District up until the year 2021 and beyond.  It will also examine within the overall requirement, how additional new affordable housing provision can be made.

The WMRA has stated that they intend to keep all District and Town / Parish Council’s informed of the process and everyone will have the opportunity of becoming involved and making their views known.  

Phase 2 Review

The WMRA has overall responsibility for deciding how the West Midlands will grow and develop in the future.  The WMRA is asking all regional and local organisations and communities about the choices and direction that could be taken in the region to 2026.

The choices are known as “spatial options” and cover housing, employment, town centres, waste and transport.

The RSS Phase 2 Review will be of major significance for Malvern Hills District and Worcestershire generally as, amongst other things, the Review will address district level requirements for housing and employment development in the period up to 2026.  The RSS Options consultation will also establish how Worcester City will grow in the period up to 2026 in relation to its role as a sub-regional focus for longer term balanced growth, with its associated implications for cross boundary development.

The West Midlands Regional Assembly presented a Draft Revision to the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy to the Secretary of State on the 21st December 2007.  The submission documents will be the subject of a formal public consultation between 7th January 2008 and 28th March 2008.  Anyone has the right to make their views or comments (representations) on the draft Revision and its policies.

Draft policies and supporting documents are available for inspection in all main libraries and Local Planning Authority offices across the Region. Also, documents can be viewed and downloaded from the Regional Assembly website or hard copies or CDs can be obtained by contacting the Regional Assembly on (0121) 245 0200 or by emailing them on wmrss@wmra.gov.uk.  Following the submission of the Phase Two Revision to the Secretary of State the management of the final stages of the process will be led by the Government Office of the West Midlands (GOWM).

The public consultation period on the Spatial Options closed on 5^th March 2007.

Please see the Spatial Options paper  which also shows the latest news from the WMRA.

A'Preferred Option' document is due to be submitted by the WMRA to Government by December 2007.

Please use the following link to view the current RSS.

A report was presented to the District Council’s Planning Committee on 22^nd  February 2007 setting out a response to the consultation, and was presented to Council on 6^th March 2007.

Further details are available from the WMRA web site www.wmra.gov.uk or by telephoning them on 0121 245 0200.