Strategic Planning, known as Spatial Planning within Essex County Council, leads the council’s response to major development pressures within the county. The Spatial Planning team promote the policy priorities of Essex County Council and lead the council’s approach to achieving the best solution for Essex communities. This is achieved by working together with, and influencing, local and national government, developers, and other key stakeholders.

 

The Spatial Planning team has a number of core activities. 

The East of England Plan (May 2008) is the previous government’s medium to long term strategic plan for the East of England region, known as the Regional Spatial Strategy or RSS.  It contains a number of key policies to guide future development in Essex in specific geographical areas and on subjects including housing, the effects of climate change, waste management, economic development, town centres and retailing, and transport. The new coalition government intends to abolish the plan shortly, but at present the RSS remains in place.

 

The Essex and Southend Structure Plan (March 2001) pre-dates the East of England Plan and was largely replaced by it. However, a few policies contained within the Structure Plan continue to apply, and information about them is included here. 

Essex County Council takes a proactive approach in influencing major development projects that affect Essex. Examples include the recent proposal for a second runway at Stansted, major port development, power stations, and work within the growth areas in Essex identified in the East of England Plan.  

The Spatial Planning team works closely with local government at the borough and district level to ensure that their local development plans are aligned with Essex priorities and the delivery of the county council’s services. 

The Spatial Planning team provides specialist services to borough and district councils in Essex and to service delivery groups within the county council. They cover the monitoring of new developments, environmental monitoring and sustainability appraisal work.