LGA urges “meaningful voice” for councils in spatial development strategies

Responding to a Government consultation on the plans, the LGA said it is "vital that these strategies are led at a local or locally-agreed appropriate level".

The consultation, which closed on Thursday (26 March), called for views on the potential geographies of the proposed SDS, with the Government backing plans to align the strategies with mayoral strategic authority areas.

It said the SDSs themselves will help ensure that sub-regional areas can effectively plan to meet their housing needs, coordinate the provision of strategic infrastructure, grow their economies and improve the environment and climate resilience.

In its submission, the LGA said it welcomes the commitment to achieve universal coverage of the strategies to tackle genuinely cross-boundary challenges like housing and infrastructure.

However, it said it “should be ensured that all constituent local authorities, and local communities, have a meaningful voice and role within regional approaches to spatial planning".

"Local authorities should always be given the flexibility to influence the geography that is most appropriate for local needs, as opposed to a central directive," it added.

The LGA also said that the success of SDSs is dependent on constituent councils and communities being heard and represented throughout the preparation of the plan.

It added: "Not permitting a seat at the table or a voting role for planning authorities on SDS could have significant implications on a strategic area’s ability to meet housing needs, as local knowledge and evidence may be overlooked. Appropriate consideration should be made to proportionality and agreed at a local level."

It went on to recommend the Government take a coordinated approach to any boundary changes across public services, ensuring that, where possible, devolution to planning, the NHS, the police, and fire services, and probation services enable alignment with regional authorities well-placed to collaborate with one another.

Commenting overall, the LGA's response said: "The LGA urges the Government to consider the significant period of change and uncertainty for local planning authorities, with devolution, widespread local government reorganisation, the introduction of SDS, and changes to plan-making.

"It is essential that councils, with their local knowledge and expertise, have a key role in shaping the geographies that are right for them and in preparing spatial development strategies.

"Ensuring councils and communities are heard and represented throughout the process will be critical to meeting housing need and delivering the Government’s ambitions. The LGA calls on the Government to take a coordinated approach to boundary changes, safeguard effective and balanced decision making, and ensure that the role and expertise of local authorities are fully engaged."

Adam Carey