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Review of sub-national economic development and regeneration

On 17 July 2007, the Government published its review of sub-national economic development and regeneration (sometimes referred to as the sub-national review or SNR). The review focused on how to strengthen economic performance in regions, cities and localities throughout the country, as well as tackling persistent pockets of deprivation where they remained.

The sub-national review was based upon the principles of managing policy at the right spatial level, ensuring clarity of objectives, and enabling places to reach their potential. In line with these principles, its final report outlined the Government’s plans to refocus both powers and responsibilities below the national level to support its objectives to encourage economic growth and tackle deprivation at every level, by:

• empowering all local authorities to promote economic development and neighbourhood renewal;
• supporting local authorities to work together at the sub-regional level;
• strengthening the regional tier; and
• reforming central government’s relations with regions and localities.

Its recommendations ranged across a number of policy areas and a cross-Government programme has been established to manage their implementation with BERR and the Department for Communities and Local Government jointly responsible.

Work is underway on delivering the various projects that make up the SNR implementation programme. A paper, Taking forward the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration, was published on 21 December setting out progress so far in implementing the SNR’s recommendations, next steps, further advice on transitional arrangements and a list of key SNR implementation milestones. The next major milestone will be the publication shortly of a consultation document seeking views on the implementation of the SNR’s headline recommendations of a duty on local authorities to carry out an economic assessment of their area and the creation of single, integrated regional strategies. Following consultation, the Government plans to enact legislation at the earliest opportunity to implement those parts of the review which require a change in the law.