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  • North West of England Plan - Regional Spatial Strategy to 2021
    • Preparing 'The North West of England Plan'
    • Key Spatial Principles
    • Regional Spatial Framework
    • Working in the North West - Achieving a Sustainable Economy
    • Living in the North West - Ensuring a Strong, Healthy and Just Society
    • Transport in the North West - Connecting people and places
    • Planning for the Environment, Minerals, Waste and Energy
  • Implementation of the Regional Spatial Strategy
    • RSS Implementation Framework - Context
    • RSS Implementation Framework - Key Principles
    • RSS Implementation Framework - Vision, Strategic Actions and Key Agencies
    • RSS Implementation Framework - Key Area Summaries and Implementation Guidance Notes
  • Sustainability Appraisal of the North West of England Plan - Regional Spatial Strategy to 2021
  • Monitoring and Review of the Regional Spatial Strategy
  • Coastal
    • Coastal Communities research
  • Partial Review of Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) 2008-2010 [NOT PROGRESSED TO COMPLETION]
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RSS Implementation Framework - Context

The Implementation Framework (IF) is part of an overall process which firstly identifies how Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) policy should be implemented and the actions required to deliver it.  The process then assessed whether the strategy and policies of the RSS were being implemented effectively, suggesting remedial action if necessary.  Action could be a review of implementation actions, or of policy itself.  The key documents in this process are the RSS itself, the IF and the Annual Monitoring Report (AMR)

The overall functions of the IF and the AMR were to

• Identify the key agencies for delivering RSS policy and the actions they need to take.  This involved ongoing engagement with the organisations themselves.  4NW could only undertake a limited number of implementation activities itself.  Consequently, delivery of RSS lay very much in the hands of a wide range of partners, with 4NW taking a promoting / supportive role.
  
• Set out a framework of targets and indicators which would measure performance of both the RSS's overall strategy (as set out in its vision and objectives), and its individual policies.
  
• Assess whether the RSS was succeeding or not, and if necessary to suggest appropriate action.  This may have been dealt with by further research or better engagement with partners.  Alternatively, recommendations may have fed into review of the RSS itself.

4NW was involved in delivery of the RSS in two ways.

• Involvement in a wide range of projects, strategies and research, often in partnership with other organisations.  Examples include projects such as the North West Broad Locations for Waste Study, development and implementation of the North West Coastal Trail (in partnership with the NW Coastal Forum), and development of the West Cheshire / North East Wales Sub Regional Spatial Strategy.  Another important example is development and promotion of the NW Integrated Appraisal Toolkit and Sustainability Checklist for Developments.
  

• A persuading and advisory role.  A key example of this was 4NW's role in providing consultee responses to regionally significant planning applications, and responses to LDF documents, including General Conformity opinions on submitted draft DPDs.  Another important area of work is Regional Funding Advice (RFA).  4NW, in partnership with the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), submitted the Northwest RFA for 2008/9 - 2010/11 and up to 2018/19, to Government on behalf of the region.  Building on the first RFA round in 2006, the report advised the Government on the region's transport, housing and regeneration, economic development and skills priorities and outlines how funding can be most effectively spent in the region over the next 3 years and beyond.