Memorandum submitted by England's Regional
Development Agencies (BW 30)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1. Regional Development Agencies (RDAs)
have a common mission to transform England's regions through sustainable
economic development. British Waterways is able to contribute
to this agenda through regeneration of its waterways and adjacent
land, as well as through activity relating to tourism, transport
and environmental enhancement. RDAs across the country are working
with British Waterways on a range of projects both directly and
indirectly. The relationship, on the whole, appears to be good
but improvements could be made through greater strategic involvement
at regional level. The RDAs' view is that the budget cuts affecting
British Waterways have the potential to have a negative impact
on the way British Waterways is able to operate and potentially
jeopardise regeneration projects which require investment by British
Waterways.
ABOUT REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES
2. Regional Development Agencies (RDAs),
established in 1999, have a common mission to transform England's
regions through sustainable economic development. They lead the
creation of ten-year Regional Economic Strategies (RESs) which
are developed in partnership with, and owned by, a wide range
of stakeholders across each region and which set the context for
economic development and regeneration in the region.
3. RDAs are business-led organisations responding
to five statutory objectives:
— To further economic development and
regeneration.
— To promote business efficiency and
competitiveness.
— To enhance the development and application
of skills relevant to employment.
— To contribute to sustainable development.
They make significant strategic investments
directly and deliver substantial funding through their networks
of regional, sub-regional and local delivery agents to improve
economic performance. In 2005-06 RDAs helped create or safeguard
more than 110,000 jobs, assisted over 52,000 people to get a job,
helped to create 18,000 businesses and assisted over 166,000 to
improve their performance. They levered in over £2,100 million
of regeneration infrastructure investment and reclaimed or re-developed
over 1,000 hectares of brownfield land in the first six months
of the year.
THE RELATIONSHIP
WITH BRITISH
WATERWAYS
4. RDAs across the country are working with
British Waterways on a range of projects both directly and indirectly
(through their delegated structures). The relationship tends to
be focused around physical regeneration activity, either direct
RDA investment in the regeneration of a particular canal or regeneration
of British Waterways land adjacent to RDA development schemes,
although a range of smaller projects are also underway focusing
on tourism, transport and environmental enhancement. Whilst in
some regions, there is strategic engagement focused on examining
the potential contribution of waterways to regeneration, this
is not the case across the entire country.
5. The relationship, on the whole, appears
to be good but improvements could be made through a better reflection
of regional priorities in the national strategy and through greater
strategic involvement at regional level.
Examples of engagement
— AWM is working with British Waterways
on a number of strategic land and property projects such as the
Walsall Waterfront project, a multi-million pound flagship regeneration
scheme aimed at transforming the heart of Walsall Town Centre.
AWM's approval of a key package of funding for the project has
enabled the first major phase of construction to start. AWM is
also providing joint funding for a range of activity with British
Waterways in both an urban and rural context. For example, it
is investing in the Droitwich Canal project.
— Emda is in the process of commissioning
a study in to the economic potential of the inland waterways in
the East Midlands in partnership with British Waterways. The study
aims to identify areas for partnership working along the waterways
and specific projects to contribute to economic development. Emda
is already working in partnership with British Waterways on a
number of sites such as Foxton Locks (interpretation and access),
Chesterfield Canal restoration, Ashby Canal restoration etc.
— NWDA is sponsoring the first phase
of the Manchester Bury Bolton Canal (MBB) restoration. British
Waterways is looking long term to open up the wider MBB to connect
the River Irwell with Bolton and Bury Town Centres. The first
phase links the River Irwell and passes through a mixed use site
which is being developed by a private developer.
— One NorthEast and partners are currently
undertaking a number of studies to explore the potential of the
Teesside White Water Course for tourism, events, renewable energy
and sport. The Course is managed by British Waterways alongside
Four Seasons,.
— South West RDA is working with British
Waterways on, amongst other things, the regeneration of Gloucester
Docks and Gloucester Quays, the latter including a new outlet
centre, housing, hotel, a food superstore and other retail and
leisure facilities. The Quays site is in close proximity to the
city centre and, with the Docks, is a key part of pump priming
the regeneration of Gloucester.
CONCLUSION
6. RDAs would ask that the Committee consider
the impact of the budget cuts on British Waterways' ability to
deliver and engage with wider regeneration initiatives and the
implications this will have on economic development within the
regions. The RDAs' view is that the budget cuts affecting British
Waterways have the potential to have a negative impact on the
way British Waterways is able to operate and potentially jeopardise
regeneration projects which require investment by British Waterways.
England's Regional Development Agencies
January 2007
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