Devolution Update: Spatial Development Strategies
26/02/26On 12 February, Government launched its consultation on the new spatial development strategies (SDS) areas. The consultation will run until 26 March 2026 and seeks views on a series of proposed geographies over which SDSs would be prepared.
What are spatial development strategies (SDSs)?
SDSs are high-level spatial plans which and are expected to cover a minimum 20 year period. It is intended that the strategies will set the framework for local plans, which will have to be in general conformity with the relevant spatial development strategy.
Government is also currently consulting on the draft National Planning Policy Framework, which contains proposed policy on what the SDSs should include. The consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework will run until 10th March 2026. Currently it is proposed that SDSs will ensure that sub-regional areas can effectively plan to:
- to meet their housing needs
- co-ordinate the provision of strategic infrastructure
- grow their economies
- improve the environment and climate resilience
Government’s consultation on the areas for producing SDSs is said to form part of wider reforms which are intended to re-introduce strategic planning in planning matters at a sub-regional level across England.
The proposed SDSs areas
Government’s consultation confirmed that where mayoral devolution arrangements already exist, these will be used as a basis for producing SDSs.
For areas that do not currently have mayoral devolution arrangements, Government proposes to “prioritise existing local consensus” and draw on proposals for devolution that have previously been submitted with local consensus.
For areas without mayoral strategic authorities, the responsibility for producing SDSs will sit with non-mayoral foundation strategic authorities, or where they don’t exist, the upper tier county councils and unitary authorities.
The proposed geographies for producing spatial development strategies have been separated into groups under the consultation. We have set out the proposed SDSs areas in the table below:
Group | Proposed spatial development strategies areas |
Group 1 This group covers areas based on existing devolution footprints and includes areas with existing combined authorities and combined county authorities. |
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Group 2 This group covers areas based on Devolution Priority Programme footprints and includes the 6 areas who are currently going through devolution and where combined authorities and combined county authorities are being established. Cumbria Combined Authority, Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority were created on 25th February 2026 |
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Group 3 This group covers areas that are not based on existing devolution footprints but have been proposed as SDSs areas by Government in the consultation. |
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Group 4 This group covers the remaining areas where Government has not proposed geographies for SDSs areas and wants to hear proposals for appropriate SDSs geographies. |
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Conclusion
Government has said in its consultation that it is open to consider amendments to the proposed spatial development areas where places want to agree devolution over different geographies.
Commentators have broadly welcomed this consultation as a milestone for the return of strategic planning. County Council Network commented that “Many CCN members have put in a significant effort with neighbouring local authorities to ‘lock in’ their strategic planning geographies and are ‘ready to go’ to implement these new Spatial Development Strategies once the relevant legislation enables them.”
Whilst the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 contains provision placing a duty on combined authorities, combined county authorities, upper-tier councils and unitary authorities to prepare SDSs for their areas, secondary legislation is required to make the strategic planning system operational. Strategic planning authorities will not be able to commence work formally on the SDSs until legislation is commenced, which is expected to be in the summer of 2026.
We will continue to monitor developments and provide updates.
How Capsticks can help
To discuss anything relating to the above, please get in touch with either Tiffany Cloynes, Rebecca Gilbert or Megan Tam.
