Eric Pickles MP, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has today announced the abolition of the Regional Planning Strategies which covered planning policies for all English council areas outside London. The move is designed to give more power to local people when planning for the housing needed in their areas.

The Regional Strategies, introduced by John Prescott (whose title will be gazetted tomorrow), which led to decisions being taken by unelected regional officials usually with no connection to the areas they. The Localism Bill which is to be introduced later this year will bring forward legislation to abolish Regional Strategies, but the Secretary of State has announced today that they are to be revoked to avoid uncertainty in the meantime.

Mr Turner said :
“We need to build houses but they should be decided by locally elected individuals, taking into account the needs of the towns, villages and the views of the people they represent. Regional Strategies were expensive, time-consuming and bureaucratic – I am very glad to see the back of them.”

END Contact : Andrew Turner’s office 01983 530808