Environment

Through the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), the NEA had a key role to play in ensuring that the environment, both natural and built, is considered in strategies, plans, programmes and planning proposals.

One of the key themes of the RSS was the built and natural environment, covering issues such as landscape character, the marine environment, forests and flood risk.

The RSS also focused on renewable energy developments, and this was further developed by landscape capacity studies, which considered the ability of the broad areas of least constraint for wind energy development (known as the ‘Ws').

The W areas identify the areas that are considered to be the most appropriate for wind energy development. The first report was published for the Knowesgate and Harwood Forest area of Northumberland in July 2006. The methodology has since been applied in four other regional studies. Further information on these studies can be found in the planning section of the website.

The NEA was involved in some of the key regional forums relating to the environment, including the Environment Forum, the Biodiversity Forum and the Historic Environment Forum.