Regional Spatial Strategy 2009 Update
As the Regional Planning Body, the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly was responsible for spatial planning at the regional level and preparing the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) (the Yorkshire and Humber Plan). Since May 2008 the Assembly had been working on a review of the RSS entitled "The Housing Challenge - RSS 2009 Update" to look at the scale and distribution of housing growth and the capacity to accommodate that growth in different parts of the region.
New Regional Governance Structures
On 1 April 2009, the Assembly took the decision to handover its functions to the new Joint Regional Board (JRB). The JRB is made up of 8 local authority leaders and 8 Yorkshire Forward board members. The JRB is now the Regional Planning Body and is supported in this function by officers from LGYH. More information about the JRB can be found here: http://www.lgyh.gov.uk/About-Us/Regional-Structures/Joint-Regional-Board/.
As well as the Joint Regional Board, there are also four new thematic boards: Housing and Regeneration, Spatial Planning, Transport, and Employment and Skills. The Assembly's Housing, Planning Strategy and Planning Conformity teams have transferred to LGYH and will provide technical support for the Spatial Planning and Housing and Regeneration boards.
The Integrated Regional Strategy
The JRB will be responsible for preparing a new Integrated Regional Strategy, which will draw together key regional strategies including the regional spatial, economic and housing strategies. The JRB met on 24th April 2009 and considered the future of the RSS 2009 Update. The Board agreed that work to date (including evidence base work and consultation responses) for the RSS review should be brought within the development process for the new Integrated Regional Strategy. Discussions are now taking place with Government Office regarding the implications of this decision for our Business Plan. A letter explaining this decision is available to download:
Next Steps
You can still find all the work carried out to date on the RSS 2009 Update by following the links in the drop down menus at the top of the page. We will be publishing on our website reports from work on flood risk, infrastructure, housing delivery and housing and the economy as it becomes available. We will also be publishing a report setting out the process and work undertaken for the RSS 2009 Update, including messages from Sustainability Appraisal work and a statement summarising public participation, consultation and engagement.
The focus of the Planning Strategy team will now shift from work on the RSS review to the development of the Integrated Regional Strategy, working closely with the rest of LGYH and in partnership with Yorkshire Forward. Further information on the Integrated Regional Strategy will be available shortly. For more information, if you have any queries, or if you would like to join the Integrated Regional Strategy mailing list, please phone 01924 331 631 or email irs@lgyh.gov.uk.
NEW EVENT: Sustainable Economic Growth, Regeneration and Local Economic Assessments (LEAs)
Local government in Yorkshire and Humber needs to explore how we can work innovatively and build capacity to conduct robust and meaningful LEAs, which are also rooted in “real-life” economic geographies.
This workshop is intended to be the first of a series that will take place in the course of conducting LEAs during 2010, to share expertise and approaches and build capacity.
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Chair of Sustainable Development Board appointed
Councillor Arthur Barker has been appointed as the Chair of the new Independent Sustainable Development Board.
Leaders' Board Scheme consultation
Consultation on how the LGYH Leaders' Board is constituted and operates