The North West of England plan regional spatial strategy to 2021

"The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for North West England" provides a framework for development and investment in the region over the next fifteen to twenty years.

It establishes a broad vision for the region and its sub-regions, priorities for growth and regeneration, and policies to achieve sustainable development across a wide range of topics - from jobs, housing and transport to climate change, waste and energy.North West England comprises the counties of Cumbria, Lancashire and Cheshire; the metropolitan districts in Greater Manchester and Merseyside; the unitary authorities of Blackburn-with-Darwen, Blackpool, Halton and Warrington.

This strategy covers all of these places.This strategy covers the whole of the Lake District National Park but not those parts of the Yorkshire Dales and Peak District National Parks that fall within the North West Region.

These are dealt with in the "RSSs for Yorkshire and Humber" (ISBN 9780117539945) and "East Midlands" (ISBN 9780117539419) respectively, and these documents should be taken into account by the relevant planning and transport authorities in the North West.The North West of England Plan has been informed by a series of assessments. The Consolidated Sustainability Appraisal, Sustainability Statement and Consolidated Habitats Regulations Assessment are available on the accompanying CD-ROM.

This document replaces the 2003 publication "Regional Planning Guidance for the North West (RPG 13)" (ISBN 9780117536487).