Inter-regional planning for the wider london region

摘要

The existing system of regional spatial planning in the 'Greater South East' is failing, and there is no sign that the Government's Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill now before Parliament will improve it. This is because, despite acknowledged economic, social and environmental linkages across the artificial boundaries, no effective means exist for relating together the London Mayor's Spatial Development Strategy for administrative Greater London with government-determined Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs) for the adjoining regions - which themselves take far too long to produce. Expectations of a change of government next year, with the Conservatives intent on abandoning regional strategies outside London, will add to the existing procedural asymmetry across this part of England, and could put the London Mayor in a powerful position in terms of regional competence.