Development of the new Regional Strategy for the Northwest
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This page aims to outline the plans and progress leading to the
development of the new Regional Strategy for the Northwest. This is
an opportunity as a region to use the next two years to strengthen
our coordination of public sector strategies and investment
plans.
The Regional Strategy will be a new and clear strategic investment
framework for the region which builds on the learning gained in the
process of developing the RES 2006, the Regional Spatial Strategy
and Partial Review and the Regional Housing Strategy.
This Regional Strategy will not be statutory, which requires
legislation which is unlikely to be in place before 2010.
The Regional Strategy team, which brings together the Goverment
Office for the North West, the NWDA and North West Regional
Assembly together with our relevant boards, have therefore agreed
that we should move quickly to produce a Northwest Regional
Strategy over the next 18-24 months, which will:
- Refresh and revise economic development actions and priorities
building on the Regional Economic Strategy 2006-09
- Focus on setting out vision and key principles on strategic
issues
- Integrate spatial and housing priorities with actions to
achieve sustainable economic growth
- Prepare the region to work swiftly and effectively on an Single
Regional Strategy after any necessary legislative changes
Following the evidence papers
consultation period which ended on 22nd September, the next
milestone will be the publication of an Principles and Issues paper
in late 2008. This will inform consultation and discussion at all
levels in early 2009 allowing North West stakeholders to set and
agree priorities.
Read
the letter sent out to the Region announcing plans to develop a new
Regional Strategy
View the
Regional Strategy / RFA2 high level timetable and engagement
plan
The Regional Strategy Advisory Group 2008
The development of the Regional Strategy will be assisted by a
Regional Strategy Advisory Group, made up of members from the
public, private and voluntary/community sectors. The main
purpose of the Advisory Group is to help guide the development and
implementation of the RS. The Group offers advice on changing
circumstances in their own areas of expertise, and will act as a
conduit with organisations they represent to share information on
and gain views/input into the RS process.
Download
Membership LIst of Regional Strategy Advisory Group
The Regional Strategy's Sustainability Appraisal
Bridge/Ursus Consultants have been appointed to undertake the
Sustainability Appraisal (SA) of the new Regional Strategy. The
purpose of the SA is to promote sustainable development through the
integration of social, environmental and economic considerations
into the preparation of the new Regional Strategy which will
integrate the existing Regional Economic Strategy (RES) and the
Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the first time under guidance
of the Sub National Review (SNR) of Economic Development. The SA
must also fully comply with the requirements of:
- Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive (European
Directive 2001/42/EC)
- The Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA)- Conservation (Natural
Habitats, &c) (Amendment) Regulations 2007
and will incorporate:
- a Health Impact Assessment
- an Equality and Diversity Impact Assessment
- appropriate sub-regional assessments for e.g. rural
proofing
The first part of the work involves scoping, which is taking
place between now and January after which it will begin to align
and run parallel with the programme of work in developing the new
Regional Strategy beginning with the Principles and Issues
process.
It is essential that this work starts at the very outset of the
Regional Strategy development process, and that, at every step of
the way, the Sustainability Appraisal is asking key questions, and
is able to participate and assist regional stakeholders in
developing options, prioritising actions, and considering
evidence.
Further information is available from Tracy Mawson - tracy.mawson@nwda.co.uk
Sub National Review
In July 2007 the Government published the Sub National Review of
Economic Development and Regeneration. The economic trends of
globalisation and technological change have made it increasingly
important that places can respond quickly and flexibly to economic
change if they are to increase prosperity and tackle effectively
concentrations of disadvantage. The effect of a less benign
national economy and constraints on public spending mean that our
structures and processes need to achieve more with less.
Key Contacts
NWDA
Simon Nokes - Simon.Nokes@nwda.co.uk
Brenda Buckley - Brenda.Buckley@nwda.co.uk
Tracy Mawson - Tracy.Mawson@nwda.co.uk
Regional Leaders Forum for the Northwest of England
(4NW)
Michael Gallagher - michael.gallagher@4nw.org.uk
Steve Barwick - steve.barwick@4nw.org.uk
Government Office for the North West
David Higham - David.Higham@gonw.gsi.gov.uk
Northwest Regional Intelligency Unit (Evidence
Base)
Rebecca Riley - Rebecca.Riley@nwda.co.uk