Spatial Development Strategies
Building the vision, evidence and digital foundations for strategic spatial planning
The importance of SDSs
Spatial Development Strategies are the most significant change to strategic planning in England for over a decade. Government wants every area covered by 2029, while the Local Plans beneath them run to 30-month timetables. For authorities, that means building shared evidence across boundaries, from very different starting points, at real pace.
I have spent the last 11 years working to make evidence and data as easy as possible to use, and that is why we established City Science. Through PropTech 6, funded by MHCLG, we are now taking those capabilities further, developing open, standardised evidence structures designed specifically for SDSs.
This brochure sets out the processes and principles we follow. If you would like to learn more about our early PropTech 6 findings, I would be glad to arrange a meeting to share them.
The timetable
Government wants SDSs across England by 2029 and new Local Plans adopted within 30 months. Evidence for both is needed now.
38 months until the end of 2029
A proportionate evidence approach
Our seven-stage approach identifies the right evidence at the right scale, avoids duplication and integrates with the Local Plan evidence beneath the SDS.
01
Scope & Vision
Develop a vision and outcomes framework, and design the evidence delivery approach to maximise value and usability.
02
Consolidate
Consolidate data and evidence in a shared, digital repository, enabling efficiency and collaboration from the outset.
03
Engage
Use visioning, digital and scenario-based techniques to engage stakeholders and communities throughout every stage.
04
Develop
Develop “Derived Evidence” using open, repeatable processes that add long-term value to sub-regional development tools.
05
Test
Test integrated, whole-system scenarios, appraising options against a sub-regional vision and outcome framework.
06
Validate
Validate and iterate evidence and options with stakeholders to ensure the strategy is deliverable and widely supported.
07
Deliver
Deliver and monitor the strategy digitally, ensuring interoperability and adding value to Local Plans and future needs.
Our SDS specialisms
Your strategic partner for digital, climate and infrastructure.
Our platform, Cadence, combines curated datasets with spatial analysis and SDS templates, giving your team a policy-aligned evidence base from day one.
The UK’s leading SME provider of Local Area Energy Planning. We assess what growth means for the climate, and what the climate means for growth.
Vision-led transport planning and automated, examination-ready modelling across every mode, fast enough for SDS timelines.
Working with authorities including
