Integration of economic and spatial planning across scales
International Journal of Public Sector Management
ISSN: 0951-3558
Article publication date: 2 October 2009
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study a major aspect of the recent Treasury‐led Review of Sub‐national Economic Development and Regeneration in attempting to integrate work currently performed under the separate economic and spatial strategies through the preparation of single regional strategies.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper analyses several aspects of the existing work of regional development agencies (RDAs) to illustrate where they could be better informed to undertake their anticipated role in regional spatial planning.
Findings
The Labour Government has been forced to change its approach to reforms at the sub‐national level. In November, 2008 it performed a late compromise in response to the consultation on the Review, in giving equal status to the work of local authorities and RDAs in writing single regional strategies. This is welcomed, as is a strengthening of the scope of sub‐regional governance. Nonetheless the reforms do little to address the socio‐economic disparities between regions.
Practical implications
The paper informs approaches to the preparation of single regional strategies and highlights the need to give greater attention to the links between policy making and delivery at national, regional and local scales.
Originality/value
The paper draws on the perspectives of a senior academic who has also worked both as a civil service research officer in regional economic planning and as a member of local, district and county committees in local governance. This experience suggests that the Government's approach to reform was informed by an agenda that was too biased towards economic and too little to environmental and social priorities.
Keywords
Citation
Townsend, A. (2009), "Integration of economic and spatial planning across scales", International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 22 No. 7, pp. 643-659. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513550910993399
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited