The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Rt. Hon Eric Pickles): I am today announcing the Coalition Government’s decision to revoke the Regional Strategy for the South East of England. This decision follows an assessment as outlined in the Written Ministerial Statement of the 25 July 2012, Official Report, House of Lords, columns WS66-68. The Order to effect this decision will be laid shortly after recess under the negative resolution procedure.
The decision to revoke the Regional Strategy for the South East signals a significant step for localism. When the Order comes into force, it will mean that development plans across the former South East government office region will comprise local plans, and where they exist, neighbourhood plans. Localised planning enables councils to make the development choices that work for them; choices that are right for their communities and respond to the needs of the local area rather than to arbitrary top-down targets. This presents a far better deal for local people.
Councillor Garry Wall, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council says,
“ This is very welcome news and follows hot on the heels of a very constructive meeting that colleagues and I had with the Planning Minister, Nick Boles MP and Nicholas Soames MP. At the meeting, held this week at the House of Commons, we stressed the importance of the removal of the South East Plan which has been an unwelcome obstacle in progressing our District Plan.
“We can now focus on delivering a sustainable plan, in partnership with our Parish and Town Councils, that supports housing and economic growth while protecting the unique character and diversity of Mid Sussex.
“This means that the Council can now make swift progress to agree its District Plan, which will set the planning strategy for Mid Sussex up to 2013. The intention is to take a report on the District Plan to the Council’s Scrutiny Committee for Planning and Economic Development on 5th March, and then on to the Full Council meeting on 20th March.”