Is an SDS the new regional spatial strategy?

No. The regional strategies were revoked. The SDS duty is a later statute, written for a sub-regional strategy area rather than an English region. London already had a spatial development strategy under the Greater London Authority Act 1999.

Does a regional spatial strategy still form part of the development plan?

No. Orders under section 109 of the Localism Act 2011 revoked them. An order can revoke part of a strategy and can leave a saved structure-plan policy in place, so read the order for that region before treating a named policy as still in force.

For residents and practitioners · Updated 3 October 2026 · As at 3 October 2026

SDS vs regional spatial strategy

A regional spatial strategy was the regional-tier plan for one of the English regions. The 2004 Act required it. It later sat inside the regional strategy, and revocation orders under the Localism Act 2011 removed it. A Spatial Development Strategy is a different instrument. It is sub-regional, and it is not a site-allocating plan.

What a regional spatial strategy was

Section 1 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 required a regional spatial strategy for each English region. The explanatory note to the North West revocation order records the next step: from 1 April 2010 that strategy became part of the regional strategy under Part 5 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

The geography was the region, such as the North West or the East of England. It was not the sub-regional footprint now proposed for Spatial Development Strategies.

How they were revoked

Section 109 of the Localism Act 2011 repealed the regional strategy framework. It also lets the Secretary of State revoke all or part of a regional strategy by order, and revoke saved structure-plan policies.

The strategies were revoked by orders made in 2013. On 27 March 2013 the government said the last three still to be revoked were the West Midlands, the South West and the North West. The North West order came into force on 20 May 2013. It is an example of the form, not a list of every order.

An order need not revoke every saved policy. If someone cites a surviving policy, read the order for that region.

What an SDS is instead

A Spatial Development Strategy is not a renamed regional spatial strategy.

Outside London it is the document described in inserted section 12D of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. It is prepared for a strategy area, which the February 2026 consultation proposes at sub-regional scale, often a devolution footprint. The proposed areas are not confirmed. It must not specify particular sites.

Greater London was not covered by those regional strategies. Its spatial development strategy is the London Plan, under the Greater London Authority Act 1999.

Side by side

	Regional spatial strategy	Spatial Development Strategy
Geography	An English region	A sub-regional strategy area. London is the Greater London area
Statute	Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, section 1, later Part 5 of the 2009 Act	Inserted sections 12A to 12W of the 2004 Act. London remains under the GLA Act 1999
Status	Revoked by orders under the Localism Act 2011, section 109	The strategic tier once the 2025 Act provisions are commenced. London's SDS is already in force
Sites	A regional strategy, now revoked	Must not specify particular sites

Questions

Is an SDS the new regional spatial strategy?: No. The regional strategies were revoked. The SDS duty is a later statute, written for a sub-regional strategy area rather than an English region. London already had a spatial development strategy under the Greater London Authority Act 1999.
Does a regional spatial strategy still form part of the development plan?: No. Orders under section 109 of the Localism Act 2011 revoked them. An order can revoke part of a strategy and can leave a saved structure-plan policy in place, so read the order for that region before treating a named policy as still in force.

Sources

Localism Act 2011, section 109 (abolition of regional strategies) — legislation.gov.uk, 15 November 2011. Repeals the regional strategy provisions and lets the Secretary of State revoke all or part of a regional strategy by order.
The Regional Strategy for the North West (Revocation) Order 2013 — legislation.gov.uk, 20 May 2013. In force 20 May 2013. The explanatory note records that the regional spatial strategy was required by PCPA 2004 s.1, became part of the regional strategy on 1 April 2010, and is revoked under Localism Act 2011 s.109. One order, not the full set.
New step for localism as every regional plan has gone — Department for Communities and Local Government, 27 March 2013. Says orders would be laid to revoke the remaining three regional strategies: the West Midlands, the South West and the North West.
Greater London Authority Act 1999, sections 334 to 343 — legislation.gov.uk, 11 November 1999. London continues to prepare its SDS under the GLA Act, not the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025.
Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, inserted PCPA 2004 s.12D (contents) — legislation.gov.uk, 18 December 2025
Areas for producing spatial development strategies (consultation paper) — MHCLG, 12 February 2026

What is a Spatial Development Strategy? — Basics
SDS vs local plan — Basics
What is a strategic planning authority? — Basics