Rayner emphasises requirement for spatial development strategies

In December 2024, Housing and Local Government Secretary, Angela Rayner, announced that all areas, whether they have a strategic authority or not, will have to produce a spatial development strategy.

This announcement came along with the publication of the government's English devolution white paper. It states that the strategy would be adopted with support from a majority of constituent members.

Speaking in front or regional mayors, local government and business leaders, the Deputy Prime Minister said proposals in the "English Devolution White Paper: Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth" would put England's regions "centre stage" and help to deliver the government's mission to grow the economy and build 1.5 million homes to boost opportunity across England.

In the foreword to the white paper, Rayner says that devolution will "no longer be agreed at the whim of a minister in Whitehall. Instead, it will be “embedded as a default into our country’s constitution".

"We will rewire national government so that our first instincts are to deliver in partnership with mayors and council leaders, not sideline them until the last moment".

The paper emphasises that mayors are "integral" to delivering the government's target of 1.5 million homes over this Parliament. Other proposed new powers for mayors include:

• mayors would be given new development management powers, similar to those exercised by the Mayor of London, which would include the ability to call in planning applications of strategic importance;
• in conjunction with these powers, mayors would be able to charge developers a mayoral levy to ensure that new developments come with the necessary associated infrastructure;
• to enable mayors to deliver on their plans, the government plans to forge a stronger partnership between Homes England and established mayoral strategic authorities, increasing Homes England's accountability to mayors, and as part of this, the government intends to, over time, move Homes England to a more regionalised model so that the agency is even more responsive to the economic plan of an area;
• the government would ensure that mayors have the funding they need to deliver on their housing ambitions, with control of grant funding of regeneration and housing delivery;
• established mayoral strategic authorities would have the ability to set the strategic direction of any future affordable housing programme.

Rayner said the turning point will be "when people and places across England finally begin to take back control over the things that matter to them. When our proud towns and cities are given the powers they need to drive growth and raise living standards - as part of this government’s Plan for Change".

The government plans to facilitate a programme of local government reorganisation for two-tier areas, and for unitary councils "where there is evidence of failure or where their size or boundaries may be hindering their ability to deliver sustainable and high-quality public services".

Proposals will be invited for reorganisation from all these areas, and delivery of any changes will be phased. The first wave of reorganisation would be undertaken in this Parliament.

The paper states: "New unitary councils must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks. For most areas, this will mean creating councils with a population of 500,000 or more, but there may be exceptions to ensure new structures make sense for an area, including for devolution, and decisions will be on a case-by-case basis".

Dr Victoria Hills, Chief Executive at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), said: "The RTPI has long been championing for strategic authorities and mayors to take on planning powers and the publication of the English Devolution White Paper is a step in the right direction in strengthening collaboration across local authorities".

"The government will now need to maintain open communication with and offer appropriate support to local authorities to provide further certainty during the transitional period, while these new changes are being implemented".

For more information on this subject, see:

• English Devolution White Paper - Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth.