Addressing Connectivity in Spatial Planning: The Case of the English Regions

Abstract

The need for an effective form of territorial governance and spatial planning to overcome sectoral and spatial insularity has been recognized by initiatives at a variety of spatial scales. However, in an increasingly interconnected world it is difficult to determine ideal ‘functional’ or natural ‘regions’ which enable spatial development trends and dynamics to be fully ‘captured’ by territorially bounded regional governance institutions. Indeed, for Schmitt-Egner (2002) the key spatial characteristic of ‘region’ is that it is a partial spatial entity characterized by vertical and horizontal linkages with other regions and other spatial scales. Reflecting this, the article considers the treatment of cross-boundary issues in the context of emerging sub-national planning in England. Key issues addressed are: what kinds of cross-boundary issues are identified at different scales? How are cross-boundary issues recognized and responded to in the regional planning process? What are the factors which contribute to building the capacity of the regional planning process to act in relation to cross-boundary issues? The review of regional planning processes across the English regions indicates that cross-boundary issues are recognized and responded to at three spatial scales, the transnational (including inter-regional), national (including inter-regional), and sub-regional (inter- and intra-regional). A more detailed consideration of the North West region of England demonstrates that a capacity to act in relation to cross-boundary issues is being built within the process of strategic regional spatial planning through the mobilization of networks of actors at the intra- and inter-regional levels.

Keywords:

• Regional planning
• boundaries
• cross border planning
• capacity building

Notes

1. Chief Seattle, cited in Moss, B. (1998), An Introduction to the Ideas of Modern Ecology for Planners, Natural and Environmental Systems, Department of Civic Design, Liverpool.

2. INTERREG, TACIS and PHARE are three EU programmes designed to address cross-border and transnational spatial planning issues and agendas.

3. The planning system in England is in the process of being reformed. A Planning and Compensation Act was passed in Spring 2004 and this will be operationalized from September 2004.For the first time statutory Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS) will be introduced for the purposes of regional planning, although the procedure and purpose for preparing these will be “very similar to those already used for RPG” (ODPM, 2002, p. 3).

4. In the 2004 European elections, the potential for postal voting was introduced in the UK for the first time. Following alleged irregularities an investigation was launched and the referenda for proposed Regional Assemblies in the North West and Yorkshire and Humberside scheduled for autumn 2004 have been postponed indefinitely. In November 2004 the people of the North East Region rejected proposals for a directly elected Regional Assembly.

5. The Trans European Networks (TENs) are designed to encourage the flows of goods, people and services across Europe. The relate to transport, energy and telecommunications networks.