Letter From Gosw On #4d499f

25 June 2009 THOSS SHEARER Deputy Regional Director Regional Strategies, Housing and Planning 1st Flr 2 Rivergate Temple Quay BRISTOL BS1 6EH GTN: 1361 1709 Tel: 0117 900 1709 Fax: 0117 900 1916 Email: [email protected]

Dear Chief Executive REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY PUBLICATION Jon Bright wrote to you on 15 June to inform you that the South West Regional Spatial Strategy would not, as we had intended, to be published by the end of June. We have had a number of queries following this. So, for clarification, I am writing to all local planning authorities to emphasise that the only reason for the delay beyond end June for publication of the Regional Spatial Strategy is to consider the implications of the recent High Court judgement on the East of England RSS. The question at issue is whether the sustainability appraisal of alternative options meets the requirements of the SEA Directive and Regulations, in the light of the East of England judgment, and, if not, how we can best make good any omission with minimum delay to completion of the RSS process. Unfortunately, it is not possible to estimate how long any delay is likely to be until we have seen and studied the written judgment. In the meantime, the RSS has reached such an advanced stage that we would expect it now to be given considerable weight in consideration of any application for development. Our advice to local planning authorities remains that they should proceed with the preparation of Core Strategies (and any other development plan documents that may be relevant), and not wait for the final RSS to be issued. Plymouth adopted their Core Strategy for the period to 2021 in 2007 and Poole adopted their Core Strategy to 2026 in February this year. If you have identified particular policy risks in the relationship between the RSS and your Core Strategy, I suggest your planners speak to the Senior Planning Manager here covering your area.

I am copying this letter to your Chief Planning Officer. Yours sincerely

T M H SHEARER