Dear Editor, Despite an ongoing debate between the political parties it is clear that all sides are now acknowledging the contribution and continuing role of Regional Development Agencies like AWM in the West Midlands.
Although there are differences in emphasis, it seems that the strategic approach of RDAs to support more evenhanded economic development between and within the English regions is now accepted.
At the Human City Institute, we value a more interventionist approach to sustainable economic development as part-and-parcel of a modern regional policy.
Very few wish to go back to the 1980s when laissez-faire economics meant that many of our cities and towns were left behind by economic policies that emphasised ‘winner-takes-all’ and fuelled the problems of high unemployment and rupture of the social fabric.
While the call for ‘localism’ is attractive in many ways and will provide some community-based solutions, tomorrow’s ‘human cities’ will also require thoughtful deployment of scarce resources from a regional perspective that stress sustainability and are built around the needs of people and diverse communities. Strategic and coordinating agencies at the regional level are vital if regions like the West Midlands are also to remain competitive, dynamic and inclusive.
John Morris,
Chair Human City Institute.
