Mr. John Spain:

The role of planning authorities in the process and the role of local area development plans remain very important considerations and are given detailed consideration in the strategic housing process, just as they are in any other application. The policy framework within which the board makes decisions is in my experience the same for strategic housing developments as for non-strategic housing developments. National policy, regional policy, development plans and local area plans must all be taken into consideration by the board when deciding appeals under section 34 for standard planning applications and when deciding on strategic housing developments.