Regional policy in the North West

1 July 2008

The North West Regional Assembly is drawing up policies that will decide and shape the region's future.

This includes what can and can't be built in the North West for the next 15-20 years.

These policies will be contained in the masterplan for the North West known as the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS).

All local councils in the region will have to abide by its content when they make plans and decisions about their area.

Key issues in the RSS that we are focussing on are:

• Climate change
  Climate change will threaten Cumbrian farm livelihoods and Blackpool's sea defences. We helped draft a stronger key policy line in the RSS.
• Transport
  We are pressing for alternatives to be found to solving congestion problems around Manchester city centre and the Port of Liverpool.
• Housing and regeneration
  We are the region with the highest number of empty properties. Refurbishing these will help regenerate our industrial towns and inner city areas.

We will be monitoring developments and holding the Assembly to account for its claim that the RSS will adopt principles of sustainable development.

Watch this space for further updates.

Further information

Briefings:

• Tackling climate change in the English regions (PDF† - 361 KB).
• RSS a blueprint for justice and sustainable development in the English regions (PDF† - 458 KB).
• Tackling climate change through planning: the government's objectives (PDF† - 466 KB).

Next: More issues in the North West >