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Banoffi Pie

Pie originated from East Sussex, having been invented in 1972 at the Hungry Monk Restaurant in Jevington.

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Spatial Planning and Culture

Spatial planning aims to make a positive contribution to people's quality of life and helps to deliver homes, jobs and improved community facilities for all.  It also protects and enhances the natural and historic environment, conserving the countryside and protecting open spaces.

If you'd like to understand how culture can contribute to spatial planning and vice versa, please explore the resources below.


A Plan Led System

Planning is a positive and proactive process operating in the public interest through a system of plan preparation and control over the development and use of land.

Links between spatial planning and culture are summarised in the sections to the left. These sections cover:

  •  At national level ,The Department of Communities and Local Government [DCLG] set overall planning policy through Planning Policy Statements, Circulars and Ministerial Statements - click on Spatial Planning and Culture: general guidance
  • Within the south east, the Regional Assembly are responsible for preparing and revising a Regional Spatial Strategy.  The draft South East Plan (the RSS), gives a vision and a broad direction for development in the region for the next 15-20 years- click on Regional Spatial Strategies and the South East Plan
  •  Where there are distinct areas that have similar strategic issues and priorities, Sub-Regional Strategies may be prepared.  Prepared in co-operation with relevant local authorities, these cover sub regions such as Central Oxfordshire, the Gatwick area and South Hampshire.  Where a growth area has been identified, as in the Sustainable Communities Plan (2003), then a similar approach is taken.  The Ashford area is an example here.  The part of the Milton Keynes - South Midlands Area, which is within the south east, is also treated in this way - click on Sub regional Planning and the Growth Areas
  • Local authorities prepare Local Development Frameworks, which aim to balance the differing demands on land and the environment in their areas.  They set out the factors that will be taken into account in deciding planning applications - click on  Local Development Frameworks
  •  Securing community (including cultural) benefits through the planning system has become an important issue in the region given the scale and speed of projected growth.  Planning obligations are one of the key tools used by authorities to help secure land and other resources for cultural facilities - click on Developer Contributions for Culture


A range of fact sheets describing the components of the spatial planning system has been published by Planning Aid [see www.planningaid.rtpi.org.uk]