• What is the Regional Plan?
• What is the East Midlands Regional Assembly?
• How will the Regional Plan Review be undertaken?
• How do I get hold of the consultation document?
• How do I respond?
• What Happens Next?

The term 'Regional Plan' is short hand for 'Regional Spatial Strategy'. Following legislation passed by Government in 2004, Regional Spatial Strategies replace the old Regional Planning Guidance.

The first Regional Planning Guidance for the East Midlands was issued by the Government in 1994. Although the Government has just issued an updated version of the Regional Plan it needs to be reviewed again to bring it fully into line with new legislation. The role of the Regional Plan is to provide a long term development strategy for the East Midlands over a 15 to 20 year period. This should include:· 

• the scale and distribution of new housing;
• priorities for the environment such as countryside and biodiversity protection, and;
• transport, infrastructure, economic development, agriculture, minerals extraction, and waste treatment and disposal.

The Regional Plan should concentrate on key regional and sub-regional issues, and look to apply the test of ‘adding value’ to the planning process.

What is the East Midlands Regional Assembly?

The final Regional Plan will be issued by the Government. However the document has been drafted for public consultation by the Regional Planning Body. The Government has designated the East Midlands Regional Assembly as the Regional Planning Body for the East Midlands.

The East Midlands Regional Assembly is a voluntary partnership made up of councillors from every local authority in the Region, along with representatives of town and parish councils, business, environmental, social and voluntary groups, and the Region’s six Members of the European Parliament. The Regional Assembly has three main functions:

• Undertaking the role of the Regional Planning Body
• Scrutinising the work of emda, the East Midlands Development Agency
• Ensuring regional policies generally are consistent with the principles of ‘Sustainable Development’ The Regional Assembly is based in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. It has around 20 staff and a total annual budget of just over £2 million – all of which comes direct from Central Government.

How is the Regional Plan Review being undertaken?

Following 18 months of research and discussion; consultation on the Draft Regional Plan is now taking place. The twelve week consultation period including a number of Sub-regional events took place between 28 September and 20 December 2006.

Presentations from the Sub-regional events are available on the Post Events page.

How do I get hold of the Consultation document?

To view the Consultation Documents, supporting information and previous consultations click on the Documents page. The Draft Regional Plan is also available from Council Offices and Public Libraries. Versions in Braille, large print and in several languages are also available.

To order a paper copy, please send a cheque for £5 (to cover postage & packing) made payable to 'Leicestershire County Council'. Please use the order form click here and post to the following address:

Attention:

Bridget Redwood

East Midlands Regional Assembly,

First Floor Offices, Council Offices,

Nottingham Road,

Melton Mowbray,

Leicestershire, LE13 0UL

e-mail: bridget.redwood@emra.gov.uk

How do I respond?

The closing date for comments on the draft Regional Plan was Wednesday, 20 December 2006.However, the Replacement housing provision figure for the Northampton Implementation Area is still out for consultation – the closing date for comments is 9 March 2007. Postal and email response forms are available on the Feedback page.

What happens next?

The Examination in Public will commence on 22 May 2007 in Leicester. For further information, please refer to the EiP web page.

To view the current work programme please visit the Timetable page.