The UK Government issues guidance to local authorities and other bodies on national planning policies and the operation of the planning system through a series of Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) Notes and Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) which are developed for each of the eight standard planning regions. RPG sets out strategic policies which need to be considered at a scale wider than the area of a single authority. RPG provides a regional framework for the preparation of local authority development plans over a fifteen to twenty year period. It is intended to identify the scale and distribution of provision for new housing and priorities for the environment, transport, infrastructure, economic development, agriculture, minerals, waste treatment and disposal. Guidance to local authorities has been issued through PPGs since 1988. However, in the move towards greater local responsibility, Regional Planning Bodies are required to work with Government Offices and Key Regional Stakeholders to produce the draft RPG. The paper describes the role of the Regional Transport Strategy within the planning framework, indicating its relation to both national and local policy, and the strengths and weaknesses of the approach.
Samenvatting