Regional strategies - Transport Policy and Planning in Great Britain - page 300

REGIONAL STRATEGY

National priority
sustainability
objectives

RDA and LA leaders' forum with
stakeholders scope the issues
an d appraise options, involving
EIP* [12 months]

RDA and LAs prepare
RFA* advice and
identify actions and
investment priorities
needed to meet the
strategy's objectives
(delivery plan)

Improved evidence
base

RDA drafts strategy and agrees
with LA leaders' forum
[3 months]

Formal consultation and EIP of
preferred strategy [6 months]

RDA and LA leaders' forum
refine and sign off draft final
regional strategy [2 months]

BERR and CLG Secretaries of
State approve regional strategy
/reserve right to make further
changes [2 months]

Implementation and monitoring activity

* EIP = Examination in Public [see 22.2]
RFA = Regional Funding Allocation [see 22.6]

Figure 18.2 The 'streamlined process' proposed for Integrated Regional Strategies (source: based on
BERR and DCLG 2008 p. 35)

18.6 Strategic planning in London
Strategic planning in London is undertaken by the Mayor with scrutiny from the
elected members of the Greater London Authority (GLA). Under the GLA Act of
1999 the Mayor is charged with producing a number of strategies, two being the Spatial
Development Strategy (SDS) and the Transport Strategy. The Mayor has chosen to
give primacy to the SDS which is referred to as the 'London Plan'. The first version
was published in 2004.
Formally the SDS occupies a similar position within the statutory development
planning system as the English Regional Spatial Strategies. Plans prepared by local
planning authorities (in this case London Boroughs) have to be in general conformity
with it and legally its policies constitute a material consideration in their determination
of planning applications. The Mayor has to be consulted on defined classes of major
applications and - unlike the Regional Assemblies - has the power to direct refusal.
The Mayor also leads on several strategic initiatives including the Thames Gateway
Growth Area, the Lower Lea Valley regeneration area and planning for the 2012
Olympic Games.
In 2006 the Mayor supplemented the policies in the SDS by publishing five non-
statutory Sub-Regional Development Frameworks. These cover Central London and
four geographical sectors and are intended to provide a bridge between the general