Policy context
Regional strategies
The regional economic strategy (RES) is one of a suite of regional strategies that aims to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the East of England. Its primary focus is to set an ambitious vision for the economy to 2031 and priorities for action that contribute to that vision. It is intended to ensure that 'those responsible for economic decision-taking are working effectively together, with common goals and accepted priorities for regional development'. It is developed with regional partners and goes through a formal consultation and appraisal process. It is an important framework document for other regional and sub-regional strategies and plans, including Local Area Agreements.
The RES complements the East of England Plan - the regional spatial strategy (RSS). The RSS is a statutory document and guides local development documents over the period 2001-2021. The Plan was launched in May 2008 and a review of the regional spatial strategy is under way, taking into account the Housing Green Paper and analysis by the National Housing and Planning Advisory Unit. This regional economic strategy has been informed by the East of England Plan and will, in turn, inform subsequent spatial planning.
Government guidance for developing the regional economic and spatial strategies requires that both are consistent and synergistici. This is achieved by ensuring that the economic aspirations for the region set out in the RES underpin the planning framework of the region. Conversely, the economic aspirations must be consistent with, and achievable within, the statutory plans for physical development.
There is a strong and complementary relationship between the two strategies (see Figure 1):
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they share an understanding of the spatial priorities of the region, particularly around the key centres of development and change. The RES adds an economic analysis of the scale and roles of key centres for development and change
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the East of England Plan includes policies to support economic diversity and business development that support the priorities outlined in the RES
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the headline regional ambitions in the RES are consistent with the housing supply targets in the East of England Plan
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there are shared objectives in the two strategies covering housing, infrastructure and regeneration
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both the RES and East of England Plan have been prepared in accordance with the region's sustainable development priorities, and the underlying principles in the RES are consistent with the emerging Integrated Sustainability Framework (ISF)
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the RES and the associated evidence base provide material input to the review of the East of England Plan in setting the context for the region's development needs to 2031.
The relationship between the strategies will be strengthened further at the delivery stage. The region will develop an East of England Implementation Plan that will define a prioritised, phased and resourced programme to deliver the two strategies and align local objectives. Other regional strategies set priorities for different aspects of sustainable development, all of which have an impact on the region's economic development. The RES has been informed by, and is designed to add value to, these regional strategies and national government policies.
Figure 1 shows how sub-regional strategies and other regional strategies feed into the regional economic strategy and regional spatial strategy. It also shows the relationship between strategy and implementation. The RES-RSS Implementation Plan will be informed by Local Area Agreements, Integrated Development Programmes, Multi Area Agreements and Corporate Plans.
