Pickles said that the Orders will also revoke remaining county-level structure plan policies in these areas. However, safeguards around the North East Somerset Green Belt known as ‘Policy S6’ of the Somerset and Exmoor National Park Joint Structure Plan as part of the South West regional strategy will not be revoked.
The safeguards will be retained "in recognition of the importance that the Government places on the green belt," a Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) statement said. It said that the Government is "determined to protect this country’s cherished natural and cultural heritage".
“This government is committed to localism and greater local decision-making in planning. The flawed top-down targets of regional planning, centrally imposing development upon communities, built nothing but resentment. They will hang over communities no more," said Pickles.
“We have secured the abolition of every single strategy. We are committed to decentralising as much power as possible and these important and popular planning reforms will bring a significant shift in power to local people,” he 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 abolition of the South East Plan this week. The East Midlands and North East of England plans will be abolished on 12 April and 15 April respectively.
