The South West RDA’s Approach to Building Resilient Sustainable Communities

1. The South West RDA’s Approach to Building Resilient Sustainable Communities Sandra Rothwell Head of Renaissance and Renewal South West of England Regional Development Agency

2. Overview: • What do we mean by building and growing resilient sustainable communities? • National context • Regional context (including targets and implications of growth) • Points for discussion and reflection

3. Sustainable growth: • Sustainable development: • Economic • Social • Environmental • Quality places where people will want to live and work • Pressures and balances: • Jobs and homes • Urban and rural • Supply and demand • New and existing • Low/zero carbon and scale • Time…

4. National context: • Recognising the pressures of growth • Urban White Paper (2000), Egan Review (2004), Sustainable Communities Agenda (2005) • … “Stronger Cities, Strategic Regions” (2006/7 DCLG) • …“Community, opportunity, prosperity” (2007 CLG) • Support cities in driving economic growth and City-Regions/Housing Green Paper etc… • Greater collaboration – ‘the most appropriate level for economic development’ • Sub-National Review (SNR)

5. National context: • New Growth Points Status - four principles: • Early delivery of housing as part of the growth plans • Supporting local partners to develop approaches to growth that are sustainable • Working with local partners to ensure that infrastructure and services keep pace with growth • Ensuring effective delivery • Does not override the planning system (not statutory designation) • Achieve average rate of new building at least 20% higher than 2003 plans/ deliver at least 500 new homes per year. See Regional Spatial Strategy Panel report…

6. (2007-8) New Growth Points (NGPs) 7

7. Regional context: • South West growth - 20 year regional projections (RES 2006): • Real Growth (av % change pa) 2006-26: 2.4 to 3.2 • Population (net change) 2006-26: 630,000 to 835,000 • Employment (net change) 2006-26: 160,000 to 330,000

8. Regional context: HOUSING: • The region is not meeting planned housing delivery figures each year (including affordable housing targets) – it was planned that 20,000 (with 7,500 affordable) should be delivered annually. • Based on growth around 3% (GVA), ONS 2003 project a population growth of 760,000 in the South West between 2006 – 2026... • …this suggests a need for between 25,000 and 32,000 additional homes per year, and certainly nearer the top end of this, if the region wants to ensure adequate supply. Either way, significant additional housing is required. • An effective balance between housing and jobs is also required

9. The South West Sustainable Communities Plan: • The Way Ahead: • Accelerated growth • Harness benefits of growth for regional productivity and to address inequalities • Investment in quality as well as quantity • Tackle barriers to growth: • Capacity • Co-ordination • Skills • Communication • Progress: • Key Areas Group • Delivery Teams • Skills and support • Partnership – across sectors • Regional Infrastructure Fund • New Growth Points • Link to LAAs/MAAs • Regional Spatial Strategy: • Planned growth in identified areas

10. Slide Title The South West Sustainable Communities Plan:The Way Ahead • Bullet copy on this line • Sub bullet

11. Balanced, quality growth: • Focus on growth areas: critical areas with most sustainable option • Quality and sustainability: NOT just a quantity issue • Predominantly urban (with some rural balance) • Balance between jobs and homes (housing and employment land) • Underpinned by infrastructure • Building-in resilience…

12. Points for discussion/reflection: • Plan for success  - don't plan for failure; look to ensure the benefits of growth (economic growth, population growth etc) can be harnessed as a result of being positive. • Growth within environmental limits - understanding environmental limits is complex, but Strategic Sustainability Appraisal provides a good mechanism, so long as it equally balances the needs of economy, society and environment. • Productivity led (relative to employment) - global economic changes / business productivity has huge SD wins - higher skills, increased inclusion, less land take. • Quality in building - what goes on inside buildings is as important as design / appearance of buildings; understand business and community needs - and plan for them. • Housing (incl. affordable housing) provision - an essential ingredient of success is adequate housing provision, otherwise the result is tight labour markets, increased commuting / congestion, bigger environmental impact, less affordable housing.

13. Points for discussion: • Improved connectivity - infrastructure, sustainable mobility. Understanding “place” within the region – link to Regional Economic Strategy and Regional Spatial Strategy. • Cities / towns / rural economic dynamic - look beyond city boundaries • Sustainable communities – positivegrowth for existing as well as new communities. Growth and improvement for all within the community. Costing infrastructure – service delivery as well as physical costs. Linking to the well-being agenda. The need for partnership… • Urban renaissance - The renaissance of the town centre. Retaining cultural identity and building on this. • First 10 years - delivery is vital. A long term strategy, a clear vision – but starting it is key!