14.— Section 23 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) in subsection (1) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (a):

“(1) (a) The objective of regional planning guidelines shall be to support the implementation of the National Spatial Strategy by providing a long-term strategic planning framework for the development of the region for which the guidelines are prepared which shall be consistent with the National Spatial Strategy.”,

(b) in subsection (2)—

(i) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (a):

“(a) any policies or objectives for the time being of the Government or any Minister for the Government, or any policies contained in the National Spatial Strategy in relation to national and regional population targets;”,

and

(ii) by the substitution of the following paragraphs for paragraph (j):

“(j) landscape, in accordance with relevant policies or objectives for the time being of the Government or any Minister of the Government relating to providing a framework for identification, assessment, protection, management and planning of landscapes and developed having regard to the European Landscape Convention done at Florence on 20 October 2000;

(k) the promotion of sustainable settlement and transportation strategies in urban and rural areas, including the promotion of measures to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and address the necessity of adaptation to climate change;

(l) such other matters as may be prescribed.”,

and

(c) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (3):

“(3A) An appropriate assessment of draft regional planning guidelines shall be carried out in accordance with Part XAB.”.