The first East Midlands Regional Plan (officially known as the “Regional Spatial Strategy for the East Midlands, or RSS8) was published on 17 March 2005.

The Regional Plan provides a long term development strategy for the region over a 15-20 year period.  It covers the scale and distribution of new housing, priorities for the environment, transport, infrastructure, economic development, agriculture, minerals extraction, waste treatment and disposal.

It is the responsibility of the East Midlands Regional Assembly, as the Regional Planning Body to develop and keep under review the Regional Plan. The Assembly reviewed the Regional Plan in 2006 and the Secretary of State is expected to approve the review as the new Regional Plan in early 2009. 

Meanwhile, the Assembly has been asked by Government to undertake a further Partial Review on key issues including housing provision, transportation and climate change issues.  This commenced on 17th October 2008.