Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS)

In a letter to local authorities on the 27th May 2010, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, The Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, confirmed the coalition government's intention of abolishing Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS).

On 10th November 2010 The Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP lost a court battle over his plans to scrap the last government's regional housing targets in England. The move was ruled unlawful by the High Court. The ruling means that the RSS may return. You can find out more here.

The government argued that regional spatial strategies were made by regional assemblies, an undemocratic tier of regional government, and this undermined directly elected local authorities.

The RSS that covered Cambridgeshire, known as the East of England Plan, set out where new homes should be built.  It confirmed the growth strategy for Cambridgeshire, including the location and size of major developments. Cambridgeshire authorities have been turning this strategy into local planning policy documents, for example the South Cambridgeshire Core Strategy, which are unaffected by the scrapping of the RSS. To bring this together across the whole of  the county, all Cambridgeshire local authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to growth, and will continue to work together with Cambridgeshire Horizons, to ensure delivery of a low carbon sustainable future.