What makes a successful Spatial Development Strategy?

Image: Cornmarket Oxford, view towards historic town hall, council offices and Christ Church - LDA Design has produced The Cowley Branch Line Densification Study for Oxford City Council

The revised National Planning Policy Framework has firmly established Spatial Development Strategies (SDSs) within the planning system in England.

As strategic authorities begin developing the first generation of SDSs, attention is turning from policy to practice. Beyond the mechanics of plan-making, a more fundamental question is emerging: what will make these strategies successful?

LDA Design has been answering this question and providing advice. The firm says:

'As an active steward of land and place, planning has an important role in shaping long-term change. The places we value most are shaped by a series of choices: where growth happens, how communities are connected, how nature is enhanced, where investment is prioritised and how change is managed over time. Spatial Development Strategies provide a framework for bringing together partners around those choices at a sub-regional scale.

'Stakeholders responsible for housing, transport, infrastructure, economic development, environmental stewardship, public services and community wellbeing all bring differing perspectives and priorities. In such a complex ecosystem, it can be tempting to propel discussion towards evidence, policies, sites and delivery mechanisms. But there is much to learn from stepping back and listening.

'Developing an SDS provides an opportunity to pause and define success, to ask ‘what is the change we want to see?’ The answer will be about place-specific outcomes, such as flood resilience, access to nature, low-carbon infrastructure, economic inclusion, sustainable growth or improved connectivity. By beginning with outcomes, it’s possible to arrive at a shared understanding of a place’s strengths, challenges and potential.

'This approach treats planning as a collective problem-solving exercise, and it changes the nature of decision-making. Rather than framing discussions in binary terms – for example, you can’t build here because it floods – it asks stakeholders to work together to define what success looks like and how it can be achieved. How can development, environmental design and land management work together to reduce risk, while also enabling growth and creating better outcomes for communities?

'Done well, an SDS can help partners navigate complexity, make informed choices and create a clear route from ambition to delivery.

'We’ve outlined our approach to Spatial Development Strategies in a short booklet, exploring how shared outcomes can help partners align priorities and make decisions with confidence.'