Long-term trends and strategic challenges

Ensuring the region is an attractive place to live, work and do business

The region’s success as an economy is increasingly dependent on its quality as a place to live, work and do business. Many international cities and regions are now placing major focus on the factors that attract and retain talented and highly skilled people and their families.

This includes:

  • the quality of the school system and designing safe and exciting places for children
  • improving the public realm and creating new spaces for community use and interaction
  • a vibrant and distinctive retail, cultural and sporting offer
  • access to high-quality green spaces and landscapes
  • providing an affordable, diverse and high-quality housing stock
  • embedding technology in homes and places to transform access to a wide range of services and leisure activities
  • networking communities and businesses to provide new opportunities for collaboration.

The East of England has unique environmental and cultural assets that can differentiate it from other regions in the UK and abroad. This includes the distinctive urban fabric and heritage of the region’s cities and market towns, exceptional landscapes, habitats and coastal areas. Growth must be managed carefully to conserve these assets - but growth also offers opportunities to increase access, enjoyment and resources to manage these assets.

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