Regional and Strategic Policy

Regional and strategic planning policies are contained within the Regional Spatial Strategy for the West Midlands (RSS) and the Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Structure Plan (1996-2011). However, under the new plan-making system introduced by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, Staffordshire County Council will no longer prepare strategic policies contained in a Structure Plan. The 'saved policies' in the Structure Plan will nevertheless remain a part of the 'development plan' until such time as they are in conflict with the provisions of the Regional Spatial Strategy for the West Midlands (June 2004) (formerly known as Regional Planning Guidance for the West Midlands).

The Regional Spatial Strategy (together with the 'saved policies' in the Structure Plan and accompanying Supplementary Planning Guidance) therefore provide the context for the preparation of more detailed local plans produced by the County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the 8 Staffordshire District/Borough Councils, and form part of the planning policy considerations when planning applications are determined. The Government Office for the West Midlands (GOWM) aim to ensure that local planning policies and regionally significant planning applications are in conformity with the Regional Spatial Strategy.

The West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy

The RSS contains the following mineral policies under the heading 'Quality of the Environment'

mineral working for non-energy minerals (policy M1)
minerals - aggregates (policy M2)
minerals - the use of alternative sources of material (policy M3)
energy minerals (policy M4)
targets for waste management facilities (policy WD1)
the need for waste management facilities (policy WD2)
criteria for the location of waste management facilities (policy WD3)

pdf document West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS)
(Large file 9.7 Mega bytes)

Alternatively the RSS document is available in chapters (smaller files) at the West Midlands Regional Assembly web site available here.

West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy - under review

The West Midlands Regional Assembly (WMRA) carried out consultations on the Spatial Options "Where, What and How Many" between 8th January - 5th March 2007.

The Spatial Options set out a wide range of questions and choices relating to the development of the Region up to 2021 and beyond. Answers to these questions will go a long way to deciding what sort of West Midlands we will have in twenty year's time.

To find out more about the revisions to the RSS click here.

The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Structure Plan

The Structure Plan contains the following minerals and waste policies:

Structure Plan image

the need for minerals (policy MW1)
maintaining mineral supply (policy MW2 - not saved - see below)
the efficient use and recycling of minerals (policy MW3)
conservation of mineral resources (policy MW4)
sustainable waste management (Policy MW5)
evaluation of proposals (policy MW6)
the relationship to conservation and/or Development initiatives (Policy MW7)
transportation of minerals and waste (Policy MW8)
reclamation (policy MW9)

To find out more about the Structure Plan click here.

'Saved policies'

A direction from the Government c/o the Government Office for the West Midlands has confirmed the 'saved policies' in our adopted Structure Plan with effect from 28 September 2007. For more details click here.

Contact us to discuss regional and strategic minerals and waste policy issues. More contacts and useful links - for general regional or strategic planning policy enquiries.

Last Modified: 03/11/2008 10:33:20
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