My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government is today publishing “Proposed Changes to the Regional Spatial Strategy” (RSS) for the West Midlands. They follow the public examination held in January 2007 and the panel report published in March.

The panel report largely welcome the changes submitted by the West Midlands Regional Assembly (WMRA) and considered that the draft revision was broadly compatible with the previously agreed principles of the West Midlands RSS.

The Secretary of State is pleased to support most of the changes recommended by the panel. These include:

new policies to define broad areas for regeneration and growth in the black country,

a new policy which replaces Dudley with Brierley Hill/Merry Hill as a strategic centre,

a new policy to emphasise the importance of transforming the environment, and

revisions to the transport priorities to reflect the current status of transport proposals in the black country.

In addition, an appropriate assessment of the proposed changes has been completed and the recommendations incorporated.

I have today written to the WMRA with the proposed changes and indicating areas where views are particularly sought from any interested parties. There will now be a public consultation period on the proposed changes, which will end on 9 November.

Copies of the relevant document is available in the Libraries of both Houses and has been provided for all of the region’s MPs, MEPs and local authorities.

The more extensive phase 2 revision to the West Midlands RSS is also underway. The WMRA is considering revisions to housing and employment policies as part of this revision.