Section 12A Spatial development strategy to be produced by strategic planning authoritiesF1

(1)

This Part requires strategic planning authorities to prepare a document, conforming to section 12D, known as a “spatial development strategy”.

(2)

In this Part “strategic planning authority” means—

(a)

a strategic planning board (see section 12B);

(b)

a combined authority;

(c)

a combined county authority;

(d)

an upper-tier county council for an area no part of which forms part of the area of a combined authority or a combined county authority;

(e)

a unitary authority for an area—

(i)

that is in England, and

(ii)

no part of which forms part of the area of a combined authority or a combined county authority.

(3)

But a principal authority that is a constituent authority of a strategic planning board is not a strategic planning authority for the purposes of this Part.

(F23A)

Where there is a mayor for the area of a combined authority or combined county authority, the functions of the authority under this Part as a strategic planning authority are functions of the authority exercisable only by the mayor on behalf of the authority.

(4)

In this Part “strategy area”, in relation to a spatial development strategy, means—

(a)

in the case of a strategic planning board, the area consisting of the areas of the constituent authorities of the board;

(b)

in the case of a combined authority, the area of the combined authority;

(c)

in the case of a combined county authority, the area of the combined county authority;

(d)

in the case of an upper-tier county council, the area of the upper-tier county council;

(e)

in the case of a unitary authority, the area of the unitary authority.

(5)

Any function of a strategic planning authority exercisable by or under this Part by a principal authority is not a function to which either of the following provisions of the Local Government Act 1972 applies—

(a)

section 101(1)(b);

(b)

section 101(5).

(6)

For provision about the spatial development strategy for London, see (in particular) sections 334 to 343 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999.

(7)

In this Part “principal authority” means a body specified in any of paragraphs (b) to (e) of subsection (2).

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Pt. 1A inserted (18.12.2025 for the purposes of making regulations, otherwise prosp.) by Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (c. 34), ss. 58(1), 118(2)(g) (with s. 116)
F2: S. 12A(3A) inserted (29.4.2026) by English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (c. 23), s. 108(1)(3), Sch. 2 para. 2 (with s. 102)