Regional strategies - Transport Policy and Planning in Great Britain - page 294

Box 18.1 Requirements of a Regional Spatial Strategy
Based on PPS11 2004 para 1.7
The RSS should:
• articulate a spatial vision of what the region will look like at the end of the period
of the strategy
• provide a concise spatial strategy for achieving that vision, deining its main aims
and objectives, illustrated by a key diagram, with the policies clearly highlighted
• address regional or sub-regional issues that will often cross county or unitary
authority and, on occasion, district boundaries, and take advantage of the range
of development options that exist at that level
• be consistent with and supportive of other regional frameworks and strategies,
including the RSDF and the regional cultural, economic and housing strategies
• provide spatially speciic policies applying national policies to the circumstances
of the region
• be locationally but not site speciic, while not going into the level of detail more
appropriate to a LDD
• be focused on delivery mechanisms which make clear what is to be done by
whom and by when
• provide a clear link between policy objectives and priorities, targets and indicators
• should apply the test of adding value to the overall planning process, and
• contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in line with section 39
of the Act.
The draft RSS has to be accompanied by details of proposed monitoring
arrangements, including the establishment by the regional planning body of partnership
arrangements with local planning authorities, the RDA, the Regional Observatory
(itself a partnership provider of data and intelligence) and other regional bodies as
appropriate.
The structure of the Annual Monitoring Report is for each region to decide but
indicators should be used to address the following implementation issues (see also
DCLG 2008d):
• whether policies and related targets have been met or progress is 'on track' (or, if
not, why)
• what significant impacts policies are having on the social, environmental and
economic characteristics of the area and whether these are as predicted by the
Sustainability Appraisal
• whether policies need amending because they are not working as intended or
because national policy or regional circumstances have changed
• whether the way the RSS is being implemented needs alteration in order to
ensure delivery.