A major issue in the contemporary planning and implementation of regional strategies is the importance of a robust and consistent framework for providing evidence for the estimated impacts of interventions.
Regional planners and policymakers are faced with difficult tasks. The reality of the world is that it is complex, with many interconnected parts and is always changing. Understanding the processes that drive change is essential.
Models of economic growth tend to neglect the importance of the attractivness of place as a driver for growth. Recently Government have highlighted spatial drivers as key determinants of relative growth. A new research centre for Spatial Economics has recently been launched with an exciting programme of work to explore the influence of place on economic activities.
A major objective of regional economic and spatial strategies concerns how to achieve growth while ensuring sustainable development. To analyse the consequences of a changing economy, population movements and to explore the potential impact of locally delivered interventions, a framework is needed in which the contribution of each of the sub-regions can be measured and assessed.
The aim of this project is to develop a model for the West Midlands that integrates spatial analysis, economic activity and environmental impacts and which produces results for geographical areas within the region (rather than simply for the region as a whole).
Identifying a solution
The West Midlands is making significant advances in integrated spatial modelling to support regional and local policies. We have consulted widely at each stage and drawn on the expertise of word-class researchers. As we enter new areas we have sought to ensure we base our project on the best evidence.
We researched the academic literature to identify possible solutions. We concluded that we needed a formal study of the existing methodlogies as well as a technical feasibility study to identify viable options. In February 2007 we commissioned a technical scoping report.