The ruling by the High Court that communities secretary Eric Pickles’ decision to revoke regional strategies and their housing targets was unlawful “changes very little” according to the secretary of state himself. <br> <br> The High Court decision was prompted by a legal challenge by Cala Homes and it effectively reinstates the regional strategies and housing targets. But the government is adamant that its localism agenda will prevail and that national targets are now irrelevant. <br> <br> “Later this month (November) the coalition government will be introducing the Localism Bill to parliament which will sweep away the last government’s controversial regional strategies,” said Pickles. <br> <br> He added that the advice given to local authorities in May to take into account the government’s intention to scrap regional strategies as a material planning consideration “still stands”. <br> <br> “The government’s chief planner has written to all local planning authorities and the Planning Inspectorate confirming that they should have regard to this material consideration in any decisions they are currently taking.” <br> <br> He said that the relevant clause in the Bill would be placed in the House of Commons Library “to illustrate the clear policy direction of the coalition”. <br> <br> …