Yes, but it’s fragmented, inconsistent, and largely reactive rather than strategic.
🏛️ 1. There is no single national spatial strategy for England
Unlike Scotland and Wales, England does not have a formal national spatial plan or development strategy.
That means:
- There is no top-down plan saying where major growth should occur
- Decisions are delegated to local councils (districts and unitaries)
- The government sets targets, but not structure
📈 2. Targets are nationally set – but unevenly applied
The government uses the Standard Method to calculate Local Housing Need, which creates a baseline housing target per local authority.
BUT:
- These numbers are not binding unless adopted in a Local Plan
- Councils can challenge or “cap” them based on constraints
- South East districts often get hit hardest due to high house prices, while Northern areas face weaker delivery incentives
🧱 3. There is no national land-use logic
Despite population and economic growth being highly concentrated in the South East, there is no coordinated national strategy for:
- Relieving housing pressure
- Relocating public investment
- Connecting jobs to housing
Compare this to:
- France (with its regional urban clusters)
- Germany (strong federal-state planning)
- Netherlands (compact, nationally guided growth zones)
England? It’s piecemeal.
📉 4. No national investment strategy to match housing delivery
Even though local councils are told to deliver more homes, there’s no automatic funding for schools, GPs, roads, or public transport.
So you get:
- Homes approved without sufficient infrastructure
- Communities growing faster than services
- Backlash and resistance
📍 Summary Table
| National Control | Exists? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National Spatial Strategy | ❌ No | England is the only UK nation without one |
| Housing Need Formula | ✅ Yes | Standard Method sets minimums per district |
| Binding Housing Targets | ❌ No | Targets aren’t enforced unless in Local Plan |
| Infrastructure Funding | ❌ No | No automatic match to population growth |
| Land Use Redistribution | ❌ No | No plan to rebalance growth across the country |
🧠 Final Thought
There is national control over the numbers, but not over the consequences or coordination. That’s why districts like EHDC are under pressure from targets they didn’t shape — without the tools or funding to deliver them properly.