East Midlands and North East of England Regional Strategies to be abolished

The DCLG said that Policy S5 of the Northumberland County and National Park Joint Structure Plan First Alteration will remain in place because it enables the extension of the green belt around Castle Morpeth and so "plays an important role in preserving the cultural and environmental heritage of the local area".

"The revocation of these Regional Strategies is another step forward for localism," said Communities Secretary Eric Pickles in a written ministerial statement (1-page / 64KB PDF).

"It completes the decentralisation of planning powers in the former government office regions of the East Midlands and North East and sends a powerful message to local councils and local people across those parts of the country. It says that we trust them and believe that they, and not central Government, are best placed to plan and deliver communities that reflect the aspirations of local people," he said.

"Once the Regional Strategies are revoked, development plans across these two areas will comprise local plans, and where they exist, neighbourhood plans. This is a significant shift of power that will benefit the everyday lives of people," Pickles said.

The announcement follows the abolition of the East of England Plan in January, the abolition of the Yorkshire and Humber Plan last month and the forthcoming abolition of the South East Plan on 25 March.