Regional Plans imposed housing targets on local communities and put pressure on councils to cut the Green Belt in 30 towns across the country, it says.
But the coalition government is committed to using the Localism Bill now passing through Parliament to abolish them.
The likely environmental impact of abolition the plans have now been assessed by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Environmental assessments of the revocation of the eight existing Regional Plans were unveiled by the department on Thursday (20 October).
The assessments were carried out in line with procedures set out in the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive, said the department.
The reports make it clear that revoking Regional Plans will mean there is "less top down pressure" on communities to review Green Belt, it said.
Subject to Royal Assent, the final abolition of each individual Regional Plan will commence after the assessment process has been completed.
Local Government Minister Bob Neill said the government was putting an end to unpopular, undemocratic Regional Plans, which threatened the countryside.
"These reports make it clear that revoking the plans will protect communities and the environment from top down pressure to build on the Green Belt.
"We are putting planning powers into the hands of local people to take charge of local housing challenges in a way that makes sense for them while protecting the local countryside and green spaces they value."
The eight environmental reports – the contents of which are open for consulation – are available on the department's website by clicking here.
The period of consultation will be 12 weeks ending on 20 January 2012.
Subject to the assessment process the government expects orders revoking the existing Regional Plans to take effect next Spring.
