Planning and Infrastructure Bill
New clause briefing: National Spatial Framework
RTPI proposal – a new clause to implement provisions for a National Spatial Framework: A National Spatial Framework is a long-term spatial strategy, with the fundamental remit of aligning and coordinating the multitude of national plans and strategies across sectors. An overarching framework will support the resolution of land use conflicts and enable co-location to guide us to build in the right places, identifying national and regional priorities.
Rationale
Simplify, expedite, strengthen and integrate plan-making through a National Spatial Framework
- Currently, there are a number of existing and emerging national strategies and plans that should inform strategic level plans and strategies. An overarching National Spatial Framework integrating these sectoral plans can simplify, expedite, integrate and strengthen the development and monitoring of strategic level plans and strategies.
- The RTPI warmly supports the re-introduction of Strategic Development Strategies (SDSs), but they can be significantly enhanced by the provision of a National Spatial Framework which works to tie together SDSs and also be informed by strategies and plans at a national level.
- As new plans and strategies are updated or prepared, they should have regard to the clear connection between all other existing plans through a National Spatial Framework, therefore improving alignment and consistency.
- Improved connection between plans and strategies will help the Government realise its housing, economic, nature and clean energy goals.
Support communities through cross-Government working
- As much as a National Spatial Framework is a visual plan, as a co-produced document, it could also be a key tool to improve the cross-working and collaboration between Government departments as well as stakeholders.
- Once established, a National Spatial Framework can be used to identify and prioritise investment need and opportunity, coordinating and directing funding to achieve maximum value and address regional inequalities across the country.
- A National Spatial Framework, if implemented, would provide a generational opportunity to enable and empower devolution in the long-term.
Proposed wording of new clause
To move the following Clause -
“National Spatial Framework
(1) There is to be a spatial plan for England to be known as the “National Spatial Framework”.
(2) The National Spatial Framework is to set out the Secretary of State’s policies and proposals for the development and use of land in England.
(3) The National Spatial Framework must contain—
(a) a strategy for England’s spatial development,
(b) a statement of what the Secretary of State considers to be priorities for that development,
(c) a statement about how the Secretary of State considers that development will contribute to each of the outcomes listed in subsection (4),
(d) targets for the use of land in different areas of England for housing, social and economic infrastructure, and
(e) an assessment of the likely impact of that development on the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change.
(4) The outcomes are—
(a) meeting the housing needs of people living in England,
(b) improving the health and wellbeing of people living in England,
(c) reducing inequality and eliminating discrimination,
(d) achieving the transition to the generation of predominantly clean energy,
(e) meeting any targets relating to the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, and
(f) securing positive effects for biodiversity.
(5) The National Spatial Framework may—
(a) contain an account of such matters as the Secretary of State considers affect, or may come to affect, the development and use of land,
(b) describe—
(i) a development and designate it, or
(ii) a class of development and designate each development within that class, a “national development”, and
(c) contain any other matter which the Secretary of State considers it appropriate to include.
(6) If the National Spatial Framework contains a designation under subsection (5)(b), the framework—
(a) must have regard to any national infrastructure strategy published by His Majesty’s Government and include a statement setting out the ways the strategy has been taken into account in preparing the framework,
(b) must contain a statement by the Secretary of State of the reasons for considering that there is a need for the national development in question, and
(c) may contain a statement by the Secretary of State as regards other matters pertaining to that designation.
(7) For the avoidance of doubt, this section does not prevent the Secretary of State from setting out policies or proposals that relate to the development or use of land outwith the National Spatial Framework.
(8) The Secretary of State must keep the National Spatial Framework under review and in any event, must—
(a) review the framework no later than 10 years from the date on which the framework was last published, and
(b) thereafter, review the framework at least once in every period of 10 years, and
(c) following each such review, prepare a revised framework or publish an explanation of why the Secretary of State has decided not to revise it.
(9) In this section, “biodiversity” has the same meaning as “biological diversity” in the United Nations Environmental Programme Convention on Biological Diversity of 5 June 1992 as amended from time to time (or in any United Nations Convention replacing that Convention).
Member’s explanatory statement
This new clause would require the Secretary of State to prepare and keep under review a National Spatial Framework for England.
Contact:
The Royal Town Planning Institute champions the art and science of planning, working for the long-term common good and wellbeing of current and future generations and representing over 27,000 members across both public and private sectors.
The Bill presents an opportunity to deliver positive change for your constituents, therefore the RTPI urges MPs to seize the opportunity to support and enhance this legislation by tabling our proposed amendments at Committee stage. These include:
- Mandatory online availability of local planning authority committee meetings
- Statutory Chief Planning Officers
- The inclusion of a purpose of planning in the Bill
- Provisions for a National Spatial Framework
The RTPI is happy to support MPs and their offices throughout the passage of the Bill. If you would like to discuss any of the above or arrange a briefing on planning reform, please get in touch [email protected]
We also encourage Parliamentarians and their staff to visit our Planning Reform 2025 Hub, the home of all the RTPI’s planning reform related parliamentary briefings, commentary, blogs and consultation responses.