Conservatives threaten to abolish Regional Spatial Strategies
Shadow communities secretary Caroline Spelman has written to Conservative-controlled local authorities stating an intention to abolish RSSs and regional planning bodies as well as regionally set housing targets. Also in danger of revocation would be the Government’s plan to transfer regional housing and planning powers to Regional Development Agencies and Regional Leaders’ Boards. Spelman’s letter said that the planning reforms were yet to be spelled out, and that a Local Government and Housing Bill would be scheduled for the first session of a new Conservative Government.
CLG meanwhile defended their policies saying that it was "quite right that local communities themselves, not central Government, set their own long-term vision, joining up regeneration plans for new jobs, homes, transport and other investment". It added that since 1997 it’s given communities the powers and funding to do just that.
