Inventing our future Collective action for a sustainable economy

What do we
need to change?
Spatial Economy
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What will success look like?
• a better balance between housing and employment opportunities
contributing to effective and affordable places
• increased business investment in the identified engines of growth
• enhanced profile for the region through its places, natural, heritage
and cultural assets
• reinforced roles for our market towns as sub-regional centres
• sustainability of the vitality of rural areas
• renaissance of our coastal towns.
In meeting our goal of delivering sustainable places as the drivers of
the regional economy, the priorities identified for the regional economic
strategy encompass the ambitions of quality, distinctiveness and
sustainability.
Priority 1:
Ensuring physical development meets the needs of a changing economy
The approach that is taken to the delivery of new physical development
will define our success in planning for growth and change and will leave a
legacy for generations to come. The quality, adaptability and appropriate
delivery and phasing of development must be the keystones in ensuring
that the East of England’s investment in the growth and regeneration
agendas adds value to the regional offer rather than compromising the
quality of lives for our residents.
Design quality is well established, both in terms of contributing
significantly to sustainable communities, ensuring sensitivity to vulnerable
landscapes and habitats, but also in making sound commercial sense and
adding value to the development process. The creation of successful
places in the East of England will rely heavily on our combined ability to
achieve high levels of design quality and environmental standards
through new development. Development of any scale that does not
contribute positively to making places better, is inappropriate in its
context; any that does not reflect the character or distinctiveness of an
area is not acceptable and should be resisted. Aspirations for design
quality across the region can in part be met by agencies such as the
Regional Centre for Sustainable Communities, which provides further
guidance, skills development and information sharing and encourages
the provision of appropriate design guidance at the local level.
In a rapidly changing economy, an adaptable approach to physical
development is essential in creating long-term sustainable communities.
In planning for new developments in the East of England, there should be
a view as to their longevity, robustness and adaptability. The Local
Government White Paper placed an emphasis on giving communities a
greater say and enabling partners to respond flexibly to local needs.
Local inputs to place-making is key to success, with local authorities and
other partners at the forefront of actively and meaningfully engaging
with communities, businesses and stakeholders in planning for new
physical development.