England’s power shift

The Government is planning to hand critical regional decision-making powers to business-led bodies with little experience of environmental issues.

Boost economic growth

Ministers see economic and housing growth as the main ways to boost each region’s prospects.

To make this happen they plan to get rid of the eight Regional Assemblies outside London. Assembly powers on transport, land use planning and other key environment issues will pass to unelected Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). 

Economy first, environment last?

RDAs will draw up a single strategy for their region. This strategy will be focused on economic growth and increased prosperity.

As part of this local councils must ‘assess the economic conditions of their local areas’ and help draw up the RDA’s strategy for the region. In a potential conflict of interest, councils can also bid for RDA funding for pet schemes for their area.

Promises, promises

Ministers say the changes will:

• Support sustainable economic growth
• Contribute to growth, jobs and wealth in a low carbon economy
• Keep the principles of sustainable development

At the moment their proposals are too vague to be sure this will be the case.

Ministers must ensure that their reforms put each region on course to a truly sustainable, low-carbon future. Without this they could lead to more environmentally damaging development, such as roads and runways, in the name of boosting the economy.

Resource 

Find out more about the Sub-National Review (PDF†)

Take action

Respond to the public consultation on the Sub-National Review before 20th June and tell your Regional Minister to build a sustainable future.

Press for action

Select your region.

Minister	Region
Barbara Follett	East
Phil Hope	East Midlands
Tessa Jowell	London
Nick Brown	North East
Beverley Hughes	North West
Jonathan Shaw	South East
Ben Bradshaw	South West
Liam Byrne	West Midlands
Rosie Winterton	Yorkshire & the Humber

 

†To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.

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