Welcome to the Draft RSS for the North West Examination in Public (EiP)

The Secretary of State decided that an Examination in Public (EiP) should be held to discuss and test the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the North West.

The examination of selected matters arising from representations on the Draft was held in public before an independent Panel appointed by the Secretary of State.

The Examination was not a review of all the proposals contained in the Draft RSS, nor a hearing of all objections. It ensured that there was public discussion of major issues of concern, where the Panel considered that an examination could usefully provide further information. Participants were selected to ensure a broad mix of viewpoints on each issue for debate.

The EiP commenced on 31 October 2006 and sat from 31 October-17 November 2006 in Wigan. The EiP reconvened in January 2007 and sat from 9-18 January in Wigan, 24-26 January in Kendal, and again in Wigan on 25 February 2007, to discuss Matter 6C.

Report

Following the EiP, the Panel prepared a Report of findings and recommendations on how the draft Regional Spatial Strategy might be improved. This Report was published for information on 8 May 2007. The Panel Report is not subject to public consultation.

The Secretary of State will consider the Report, together with representations made on the draft RSS, with the aim of publishing Proposed Changes in Autumn 2007. There will be a public consultation on the Proposed Changes, likely to last 12 weeks.

Following consideration of responses to the consultation on the Proposed Changes, the Secretary of State is expected to publish the final North West Plan in early 2008.

Copies of the Panel Report will be made available for inspection at the same places where the draft RSS was deposited – public libraries, local authority planning departments, and the offices of the North West Regional Assembly and Government Office for the North West and will be sent to all participants at the EiP and local authority Chief Planning Officers. Hard copies will be available in the week commencing 15 May.

Government Office for the North West is not able to enter into discussions with stakeholders about the Panel Report. The reasons for this are explained in a letter to the Chair of the NWRA

Updated 8th May 2007

Panel Report published 8th May 2007:
Main Report
Appendices
Report Front Cover

Closure of the Secretariat Office: The Panel Secretariat office has now closed. Any queries regarding the EiP should now be directed to Government Office North West (see ‘Contact Us’ page for contact details)

EiP Information and Updates Webpage: This page includes information relating to EiP session, including Amended Final List of Matters and Participants, and documents/Briefing Papers submitted during the EiP. Click here to view.