Independent reference · not a government website

England

Spatial Planning

For residents and practitioners · Updated 20 September 2026 · As at 20 September 2026

About this site

This site is an independent public-interest reference on Spatial Development Strategies in England. It is not a government website. It is not affiliated with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Planning Inspectorate, or any strategic planning authority. Pages compile statute and published official sources. They are dated because the regime is still being stood up.

What you can use it for

  • A first explanation of what an SDS is, and what it is not
  • A map of the proposed geographies, clearly marked as consultation proposals
  • Process and examination tests, with links to the primary documents
  • Templates for residents and practitioners

You should still read the statute, the NPPF and the documents your local strategic planning authority publishes. If this site and a primary source disagree, the primary source wins.

What it is not

  • Not official guidance
  • Not legal advice
  • Not a campaign site
  • Not a substitute for the consultation portal of the authority preparing an SDS

Corrections

If a section number, date or status is wrong, that is a serious error on a reference site. Email a correction with the URL, the sentence and the primary source. We will date-stamp the change on the page.

Contact: hello@spatialplanning.uk

Analytics

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Publisher

The site is published as an unnamed independent reference. There is no named sponsoring department or campaign. Editorial standards explain how pages are sourced and when they are reviewed.

Sources

  1. Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, c. 34, section 58 — legislation.gov.uk, 18 December 2025. Inserts new sections 12A to 12W into the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. Royal Assent 18 December 2025.
  2. National Planning Policy Framework — Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, 17 August 2026. Replaces earlier NPPF versions. Plan-making policies include PM1 (SDS content) and PM14 (SDS examination).

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