Regional Strategy Evidence Base
Building the Regional Strategy evidence base has been essential to the development of the RS2010. The work on this has been led by the Regional Intelligence Unit. Details of the different elements can be found below:
Summary of the evidence base
Evidence papers
Independent Peer Review
Future Scenarios
SQW Think Piece
State of the region 2008
Regional Economic Forecasting
Places Research
Strategic Environmental Assessment
Please visit the Regional Strategy website to view Part 1 of the Regional Strategy, which will be open for consultation for 8 weeks, and details of consultation events in your area.
Summary of the Evidence Base RS2010 – Assets, opportunities and issues
This REPORT summarises the evidence collected to date for the development of the Regional Strategy (RS2010), it looks through the lenses of the pillars of sustainable economic development by exploring the Northwest’s economy, environment, society and wellbeing as the high level themes, and how these pillars play out spatially within the region.
Evidence Papers
Following the consultation process in Autumn 2008, the Regional Strategy Evidence Papers have been updated throughout the year in consultation with policy and research experts within the region and nationally.
The purpose of the first draft evidence papers was to stimulate debate and discussion, in developing the approach to formulating a new regional strategy. We have now updated the evidence papers. It is important to emphasise that these papers do not constitute the full evidence base and the wider evidence base of partners has also contributed. Please click on the links below to download the papers:-
Culture, Image and HeritageEconomic PerformanceEnergyEnterpriseEnvironmentHealth and WellbeingHousing ICTInnovationInternational CompetitivenessLocal EmploymentPopulation ChangeQuality of LifeScience and R&DSectorsSkills: Ensuring commitment to skillsSkills: Raising the aspirationsSkills: Stimulating investment into the workforceSustainable Consumption and Production
Independent Peer Review of the RS2010 Evidence Base
The Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) and 4NW, the Regional Leaders Board for the Northwest of England, have commissioned an Independent Peer Review Panel of leading academics, economic development professionals and policy practitioners to review the evidence base which will inform the forthcoming Regional Strategy 2010.
The process will scrutinise the evidence base and provide a review of the following:
- the methodologies and processes associated with the evidence base;
- the robustness of interpretation of the research and intelligence;
- coverage and use of appropriate and best available sources and data; and
- the use of appropriate suppliers and experts.
CLES have been appointed to provide the secretariat with Alan Harding chairing the panel. For more information please visit the Independent Peer Review of the RS2010 Evidence Base page.
Future Scenarios
Scenario planning is a way of discussing complex future issues in a clear and structured way, to identify and prioritise risks and opportunities. Scenarios are just tools that we use to help people think about the different possibilities in the future. We will use the scenarios as tools in workshops to challenge the regional strategy – they are not an outcome in themselves. A Northwest Futures 2030 : Interim Scenarios Report has been published.
Regional Economic Forecasting
The long term 2009 report of the Regional Economic forecasting panel provides the baseline forecast for the region and is intended to provide a direct input to the Northwest’s new Regional Strategy, RS2010. In the past a number of different forecasts have been used in the strategies and this has led to inconsistencies and a degree of confusion. Without sacrificing any of its independence, the Panel agreed to produce a single set of forecasts to underpin the Northwest’s new Regional Strategy (RS2010). In doing so, it has drawn for the first time on the work of not just one forecasting house but three, before making its own judgements on the most likely long-term outcome for the region. This base forecast for the Northwest as a whole is an essential prerequisite to the subsequent discussions on the aspirations of the region and its five sub-regions. To download the report and for further information please visit the Regional Economic Forecasting Panel page.
Places Research
The RIU has undertaken work to examine places and their potential as part of developing our economic understanding of the region and preparing the evidence base for the development of a regional strategy. The work analyses the potential for growth at Northwest local authority level and building this up to functional geographies by examining interactions between places. One of the main purposes of this work is to help to assess the role played by place in shaping and influencing the economy of the Northwest and give a better understanding of the functional economic geography of the region. For more information and to download the final reports please visit the Places section of the Research Programme.
Strategic Environmental Assessment
The Regional Strategy is subject to a comprehensive Sustainability Appraisal to ensure that it fully integrates social, environmental and economic considerations. Bridge/Ursus Consultants have been appointed to undertake the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) of the new Regional Strategy. Its purpose is to promote sustainable development through the integration of social, environmental and economic considerations into the formation of the new Regional Strategy. For more information please visit the RS2010 website.
Independent Think Piece by SQW Consulting
Alongside the publication of the Principles and Issues Paper, we published the supporting analysis, an independent Think Piece by SQW Consulting.
This independent Think Piece presented an analysis of themes relevant to the development of the RS2010, and explores how those themes shape - and are shaped by - the character of particular places in the Northwest.
The State of the Region Report
The State of the Region Report was published in April 2009 and was a culmination of work that has been carried out by the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) throughout 2008. It draws together work carried out within the 2007/08 Research Programme, drafting of the Regional Strategy Evidence Papers and the constant data and intelligence monitoring work the team does.
The purpose of the report is to provide a summary of the knowledge we are pulling together to start to inform the Regional Strategy, it is a guide to what has informed the regional debate, and its purpose it to continue to do so over the next phase of strategy development.
The Regional Strategy Evidence Base will continue to evolve over the coming months. The current tough economic conditions also mean that building a substantial and accurate common evidence base will need continued work by all stakeholders throughout the strategy development process.
Research Programme and Broader Evidence Base of Partners
The Partner Evidence is a comprehensive programme of research into important topics, the main conclusions of which will also be fed into the updated Evidence Papers. In addition to work done by partners in the region the RIU also runs the Regional Research Programme. The programme of research is categorised according to the following themes: Economic, Business, Skills & Education, People & Jobs, Infrastructure, Quality of Life and Places.
For further information please contact Rebecca Riley at nwriu@nwda.co.uk