In July 2007 the Government published the Review of the Sub-National Economy and Regeneration which included reforms to streamline arrangements at the regional level. The aim of the reforms was to bring together economic development and spatial planning and try to address the fragmentation of strategies and organisations at the regional level. The proposed approach is to replace them with a single Regional Strategy.
The proposals were considered in the consultation ‘prosperous places;
taking forward the review of the sub-national economic development and
regeneration’ published in November 2008. The consultation
endorsed the principles of the single Regional Strategy. The Government
responded to the consultation in November in 2008.
The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill was
introduced into Parliament in December 2008 which implements the
proposals. It is expected that the Bill will gain Royal Accent in the
autumn of 2009.
Outline for the Regional Strategy
The Regional Strategy is to set out the overarching strategic framework for
the South East. The intended outcome of the South East Regional
Strategy is sustainable economic growth but must contribute to sustainable
development.
The regional strategy will set out the South East’s vision for how
and where sustainable economic growth will be delivered focusing on the
relationship between the economy and the key drivers for growth, the
environment, communities and regeneration in the South East. Like the
current Regional Spatial Strategy the Regional Strategy will be part of the
statutory development plan.
The South East Regional Strategy and will be developed within and by the
Region, commissioned by South East of
England Partnership Board.
The South East Regional Strategy will build on the experience gained
through developing the South East Regional
Economic Strategy, the South East Regional
Spatial Strategy, the
South East Regional
Sustainability Framework as well as other South East
strategies.
Principles for the Regional Strategy
The regional strategy should be a succinct document based on sound evidence
giving a clear and distinctive sense of direction for the South
East. The regional strategy should:
- set out the long-term vision to what the South East will look like in
15 to 20 years time and how the vision will be achieved meeting
sustainable development objectives
- be regionally specific and address the needs of the South East and the
needs of urban and rural places within the Region
- demonstrate how the strategy for the South East will deliver
sustainable economic growth
- address issues best dealt with at the regional level rather than
through national or local strategies, plans and policies
- integrate and demonstrate from the onset a Sustainability Appraisal,
the Strategic Environment Assessment and Habitats Regulation Assessment in
to the development of the strategy
- ensure stakeholder engagement is a fundamental feature of the process
of developing and delivering the strategy
The National Dimension of the Regional Strategy
Although the regional strategies are setting out regional visions, the
Government has three clear national level expectations for each regional
strategy:
-
Economic Outcomes – Economic growth in all
regions
-
Housing Outcomes – Test the housing supply
figures from the National Housing and Planning Advisory Unity for each
region
-
Climate Change – Develop an ambitious strategy
which will progress against the UK greenhouse gas targets and makes use
of national energy policies.
For further information
visit www.se-partnershipboard.org.uk