Helen Goodman

After almost four years of drafts, consultations and public examinations, the North East Plan of England (Regional Spatial Strategy) has finally been published, and it has been broadly welcomed by Helen.

The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) provides the blueprint for development in the North East until 2021, and includes vital measures to increase housing supply, improve the regions’ transport infrastructure, combat climate change and allow sustainable development of a number of key employment sites.

The final document reflects recent regional population growth by increasing projected house building to 128,900 new homes by 2021, and includes important green measures such as a commitment to generate 20% of the regions’ electricity from renewable sources by 2020, and a ‘checklist for development’ so that all new planning projects ‘incorporate as many facets of sustainability as possible’.

There are also proposals to upgrade the East Coast Main Line, to reduce congestion on the regions’ roads, to encourage the expansion of Teesport, (see right) and to allow 25 hectares of development at NetPark (see top left) in Co. Durham.

Helen said:

“I am delighted that the RSS has finally been published, and that it reflects many of the concerns I raised during the consultation process: in particular the need to build more houses, and to allow the expansion of sites such as NetPark and Heighington Lane West.

It is also encouraging that Climate Change and sustainable development are at the heart of the document, and it is vital to ensure that these principles underpin regional development throughout the course of the Plan”.

You read more about the RSS here, and can download the full document here