East Midlands Regional Plan

East Midlands Regional Plan
Name	East Midlands Regional Plan
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Published	2009
Authority	East Midlands Development Agency
Status	Revoked

East Midlands Regional Plan was a strategic spatial framework for the East Midlands (region), prepared under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and informed by national policy such as Planning Policy Statement 1 and Planning Policy Statement 3. It sought to coordinate growth across authorities including Nottinghamshire County Council, Derbyshire Dales, Leicestershire County Council, Rutland County Council, South Derbyshire District Council and urban areas like Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Northampton, and Wellingborough. The plan addressed housing targets, economic development, transport networks, environmental protection, and infrastructure investment linked to agencies such as the Homes and Communities Agency, the Highways Agency, and the former East Midlands Development Agency.

Background and Purpose

The plan originated from duties set by the Department for Communities and Local Government and reflected research by bodies including the Royal Town Planning Institute, the Town and Country Planning Association, Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research, and academic units at University of Nottingham, University of Leicester, University of Derby, Loughborough University, Cranfield University, and University of Lincoln. It aimed to translate strategic frameworks from the East Midlands Regional Assembly and the East Midlands Regional Strategy into policy interventions affecting local planning authorities such as Rushcliffe Borough Council, Charnwood Borough Council, Bolsover District Council, Bassetlaw District Council, Boston Borough Council, and South Kesteven District Council. The plan responded to drivers exemplified by the Growth Review 2009, the Leitch Review of Skills, and the 2008 financial crisis.

Spatial Strategy and Key Policies

Spatial distribution proposals referenced growth corridors such as the M1 motorway (Great Britain), the A1 road (Great Britain), the East Coast Main Line, and the Midland Main Line. Policy directions promoted urban concentration in principal urban areas including Nottingham Express Transit, Derby Cathedral Quarter, and Leicester Waterside, alongside regeneration zones like International Regeneration Project (Derby), Nottingham Southside, Lincolnshire Lakes, and the St. George's Quarter (Northampton). The plan set out development principles drawing on precedents like the Poundbury development and policy instruments from the National Planning Policy Framework successor frameworks, with specific allocations near strategic sites such as East Midlands Airport, Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station, Derby North Staffordshire Works, and the DNRC (Derby) redevelopment. Design guidance referenced practice from English Heritage, Heritage Lottery Fund initiatives, and urban design research at Bartlett School of Planning.

Housing, Economy, and Infrastructure

Targets for housing were linked to projections by the Office for National Statistics and affordability studies from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Shelter (charity), influencing delivery across districts like Hinckley and Bosworth, Melton Borough Council, North West Leicestershire District Council, South Holland District Council, and East Lindsey District Council. Economic policy drew on labour market analysis by National Audit Office, investment plans by the Infrastructure UK unit, and sector strategies for manufacturing clusters around Toyota (UK) Burnaston plant, Rolls-Royce Holdings plc at Derby, logistics at East Midlands Gateway, and energy supply connected to Immingham and Grimsby. Transport interventions coordinated with Network Rail, proposals for high-speed services discussed in High Speed 2, and local transit schemes such as Nottingham Express Transit and Leicester Park and Ride. Utilities planning engaged statutory undertakers including Severn Trent Water, United Utilities, National Grid plc, and energy policy dialogues involving Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Resilience

Environmental policies integrated statutory designations like Derbyshire Dales National Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire Wolds AONB, Rutland Water, Peak District National Park, Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, and coastal management linked to Humber Estuary. Biodiversity obligations referenced Natural England guidance and compliance with directives such as the EU Birds Directive and the EU Habitats Directive before domestic transposition. Flood risk and water resource planning coordinated with Environment Agency strategies, catchment planning for the River Trent, River Soar, and River Nene, and adaptation measures promoted by the UK Climate Projections 2009 (UKCP09) outputs and research from Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. Renewable energy and low-carbon agendas aligned with demonstration projects at E.ON (formerly Powergen) sites, biomass initiatives involving East Midlands Renewable Energy Association, and carbon management studies from Centre for Low Carbon Futures.

Implementation, Governance, and Funding

Delivery relied on local planning authorities including Derby City Council, Nottingham City Council, Leicester City Council, Lincolnshire County Council, Northamptonshire County Council, alongside regional bodies like the East Midlands Development Agency and strategic partnerships such as Local Enterprise Partnerships including D2N2 LEP and Greater Lincolnshire LEP. Funding mechanisms included allocations from the Homes and Communities Agency, bids to the Regional Growth Fund, capital programmes overseen by HM Treasury, and private finance from developers including major housebuilders such as Barratt Developments, Taylor Wimpey, Persimmon plc, and finance from institutions like Barclays and HSBC. Monitoring frameworks referenced statutory tests set by the Planning Inspectorate and reporting to ministers at the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Consultation, Criticism, and Revisions

Consultation processes involved stakeholders including parish councils, parish meetings, business groups such as the Confederation of British Industry, third-sector organisations like The Wildlife Trusts, and academic consultees from University of Nottingham Business School. Criticisms addressed by campaign groups such as CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) and local action groups in Rutland and Lincolnshire focused on greenfield loss, transport capacity, and housing density. Legal challenges engaged the High Court of Justice and procedural reviews by the Planning Inspectorate, while the abolition of regional strategies by the Localism Act 2011 and policy shifts under successive Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government holders led to revocation, replacement by local plans produced by district councils, and subsequent revisions influenced by national frameworks like the National Planning Policy Framework and strategic infrastructure planning at National Infrastructure Commission.

Category:Urban planning in the United Kingdom Category:East Midlands