Regional strategies for East Midlands and North East next to go: Pickles

The regional strategies for the East Midlands and the North East are the next in line to be abolished, the Communities Secretary has said.

An order revoking the East Midlands strategy was due to be laid in Parliament today (20 March). The order for the North East will be laid at a later date.

In a written ministerial statement, the Communities Secretary said the latter order would not revoke the policy in the Northumberland plan because that enabled extension of the Green Belt around Castle Morpeth “and so plays an important role in preserving the cultural and environmental heritage of the local area”.

He insisted: “This reflects the Government’s commitment to safeguarding Green Belt protection.”

Pickles said in the statement: “The revocation of these regional strategies is another step forward for localism. It completes the decentralisation of planning powers in the former government office regions of the East Midlands and North East and sends a powerful message to local councils and local people across those parts of the country. It says that we trust them and believe that they, and not central Government, are best placed to plan and deliver communities that reflect the aspirations of local people.

“Once the regional strategies are revoked, development plans across these two areas will comprise local plans, and where they exist, neighbourhood plans. This is a significant shift of power that will benefit the everyday lives of people.”

The regional strategies for the East of England and Yorkshire and Humber have already been revoked, while an order revoking that for the South East has been laid.