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RSA Research Network Governing Metropolitan Regions within a Localist Agenda University of Westminster, 21 September 2012. SCALES OF PLANNING MARTIN SIMMONS (TCPA). Scales of Planning: theme of presentation. The Regional Scale in England
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RSA Research NetworkGoverning Metropolitan Regions within a Localist AgendaUniversity of Westminster, 21 September 2012 SCALES OF PLANNING MARTIN SIMMONS (TCPA)
Scales of Planning: theme of presentation • The Regional Scale in England Greater London English Regions Situation in 2012 Comparisons : Paris, Berlin • The Sub-Regional Scale Conceptual: functional geographies Within London In the wider metropolitan region Rest of England: move to city-regions • The Local Authority Scale: Boroughs and Districts London: 33 LAs make Local Plans, within London Plan context In wider region: LAs make Local Plans; ‘duty to cooperate’ • Conclude: future of planning for the metropolitan region
Regional Planning in England: Advantage London 1 • Devolved Mayoral London continues to have its statutory London Plan 2011 Localism Act leaves London situation intact • Regional Planning system introduced in 2000 being abolished Regional Spatial Strategies finalised 2007-2009: short life! Flaws: artificial regions; ‘democratic deficit’; Central Government influence (housing) and control Facilitated 2010 Government’s intent to abolish Regionalism in favour of Localism Abolition includes RSSs in the wider metropolitan region
Regional Planning in England: Advantage London 2 • Only administrative London now has ability to bid for strategic transport and other infrastructure investment • Rest of England’s main growth region loses its voice • Key upcoming issues: housing provision; airport capacity; rail capacity (commuting); water supply and management; waste • Compare Paris: city related to wider Ile-de-France region - wide research/evidence-based strategies Berlin: joint Berlin-Brandenburg state planning regime functional growth geographies
Sub-Regional Planning in England: towards City-Regions • London: London Plan recognises 5 functional/geographic sub-regions: Central (growth); East (regeneration); North, West, South (outer London) Groupings of Boroughs > Sub-Regional Partnerships • Outside London: RSSs included sub-regional policies based on functional areas or sharing common issues now: some use in Local Plan preparation (‘duty to cooperate’?) Local Enterprise Partnerships established, but effectiveness? • In rest of England: move to City-Regions e.g. Greater Manchester; Greater Leeds... ‘combined authorities’ devolution starting: ‘city deals’ by Government - transport; economic development
The Local Authority Scale: Boroughs and Districts 1 Contrasting situations in London & the wider metropolitan region • In London 33 LAs – Boroughs – produce Borough Plans within the strategic framework of the London Plan - with which they must ‘generally conform’ An established and stable planning regime. • Outside in the wider region the Boroughs and Districts prepare Local Plans With the abolition of RSSs, wider strategic issues rely on inter-LA cooperation
The Local Authority scale: Boroughs and Districts 2 • Localism Act ‘Duty to Cooperate’ expected to include: housing needs assessments; economic development; infrastructure including delivery For LAs to decide its scale and extent Must satisfy Examining Inspector has occurred but does ‘cooperation’ mean ‘agreement’? • Present indications (early days) can work in city areas, given political will uncertain/unclear in more rural areas - including parts of the south-east outside London little sign of cooperation across the London boundary
Relating London to the wider Metropolitan Region 1 The big outstanding issue • London boundary set in early 1960s; retained for 2000 Mayoral regime 8 million population within biggest concentration of UK employment at centre, by far • Wider functional metropolitan region extends for further 50-100 km. 10-14 million population outside; supplies 15% of London’s workforce polycentric employment structure, strongest to west No effective ability to relate together
Relating London to the wider Metropolitan Region 2 • Initial need is for a funded research programme - to define the real extent of the wider functional region - to assess the key linkages between London and its hinterland: migration & housing; labour markets and commuting; location of economic growth; transport, water etc. capacities; environmental challenges and green belt • Alongside this, work towards a governance regime jointly to manage new forms of spatial planning - for London and the wider region as a whole - at the sub-regional scale, between four quadrants of London outwards