Comment
Liverpool City Region Spatial Development Strategy: Shaping the strategic planning framework
Public consultation on the Liverpool City Region (LCR) Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) will take place between 10 November and 1 February following approval by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA). The proposed consultation follows a previous stage of engagement in autumn 2019. It will provide an important opportunity to shape the strategic planning framework for the LCR.
The SDS is a cornerstone of the Devolution Deal for the LCR and is integral to the delivery of the vision of the LCR Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram. It will set out a spatial planning framework for the next 15 years, dealing with strategic matters to facilitate and manage the future growth and development across the area. The regulations by which the SDS will be made – which are different to the usual plan-making regulations - prevent changes to Green Belt boundaries. This is the principal reason that the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework is proceeding as a joint Local Plan rather than SDS.
Detailed policies, including housing and employment land allocations and any changes to Green Belt boundaries, will be contained within the development plans for the constituent local authorities.
Consultation will focus on the SDS vision; the five SDS objectives and some of the proposed policy areas. It deliberately avoids including housing numbers pending the outcome of the review of the national standard method; the report to be considered at today’s meeting considers that any engagement on this aspect would therefore be “inappropriate”. Instead it proposes that there would be a further engagement in the late summer of 2021 on matters such as:
- housing and employment requirements;
- spatial distribution; and
- other policy areas which are presently under review due to the planning White Paper.
The current consultation does, however, present an opportunity to promote a ‘pro-growth’ vision, such that the SDS grasps the opportunity to boost growth across the LCR rather than simply establishing a strategy which represents a continuation of past trends.
The vision and strategic objectives are focussed on creating a city region which is addressing the challenges of climate change whilst placing health and wellbeing at the heart of development. Amongst other matters, it reflects the need to safeguard health in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and to respond positively in terms of health and well-being, but also livelihoods and economy, the role of the LCR’s town and city centres and communities. In this regard it will seek to reflect the LCR Economic Recovery Plan. Inclusion in terms of the economy (particularly the provision of quality jobs) and homes for all are integral to its vision and objectives, which could be characterised in short as seeking to achieve inclusive growth alongside environmental and social responsibility.
The LCRCA will be hoping that by avoiding the contentious matters of housing need and site allocations and deferring any Green Belt boundary changes to future Local Plans the SDS can be adopted quickly. As the SDS will provide the spatial strategy for the city region, and guide economic recovery from the effects of the pandemic, it must establish clear ambition. We will have more idea of the nature of this ambition when housing and employment needs are quantified in a future version. In the meantime, and given the direction of travel of planning reforms the SDS should be providing a clear strategy for where growth will be focussed and priorities for renewal.
We will be monitoring progress and would be happy to advise further on the implications of the SDS if of interest. Please contact Peter Rowe for more information.
6 November 2020