1. A UK Spatial Planning Framework Will French RTPI National Planning Forum 20 June 2006

2. Spatial Planning in the UK • Regional Spatial Strategies • No Development Framework for England (but TCPA is calling for one) • Northern Ireland Spatial Strategy 2001 • Wales Spatial Plan 2004 • National Planning Framework for Scotland 2004 • No National Spatial Strategy for the UK • European Spatial Development Perspective

3. The case for a UKSPF (1) • Many National government policies have spatial implications – Health, Skills, Higher Education • DCLG Core Cities Work • Barker 2 and calls for National Policies for Major Infrastructure Projects • Broad Government Objectives need reconciling eg: • PSA2 Target to reduce the persistent gap in growth rates between regions • Sustainable Communities Plan proposing growth areas in the ‘Greater South East’ • ? Availability of water supplies for Thames Gateway ?

4. The case for a UKSPF (2) • Planning policies and initiatives are based on existing administrative areas. BUT • There is no recognition of functional entities that transcend administrative boundaries • So how can sectoral policies such as network planning or a national transport strategy be integrated?

5. Developing a UK Spatial Structure Cecilia Wong and colleagues from Liverpool University have examined data resources to develop conceptual maps of the current spatial structure of the UK. Key elements: • commuting distances and times • migration flows • connectivity.

6. Commuting Distances

8. Inter-District Migration: 2000-2001 • Gross flow 50 or more • Gross flow 100 or more • Gross flow 250 or more • Gross flow 500 or more • Gross flow 1000 or more • Spatial Unit: Local Authority area (or equivalent) in UK, except NI • Depicts housing market areas. • Identifiable spatial clusters around major urban centres

10. The Implications Major UK functional areas can be examined and understood for: • Their internal dynamics and change drivers: • demographics: age structure and population change etc. • socio-cultural factors: level of deprivation and quality of life. • knowledge economy and business competitiveness: skills, • qualifications, industrial structure and research capacity • environmental conditions: transport modes, air emissions and resources • The Spatial implications of broad Gov’t objectives – PSA2, Sustainable Development Strategy. • Relationships between existing administrative regions & Core Cities

11. Next Steps • RTPI Planning Convention • launch of the full Liverpool Report (contains 50 + maps) • Remainder 2006: • Development of Scenarios • Dissemination amongst wider interest groups