Sub-regional planning in England: Neglected opportunity or unwanted complexity?

Set within a general discussion of the characteristics of sub-regional planning and development, this paper reports the results of recent research on the proposed arrangements for strategic planning at regional and sub-regional levels in the English regions. It also examines the characteristics of strategic planning at regional and sub-regional levels in Scotland and Wales. Specific consideration is given to the advantages and disadvantages associated with sub-regional strategic planning and to a number of key issues, including - the scope and coverage of sub-regional planning; the appropriate spatial scale for subregional planning; the coordination or integration of land use, economic development, environmental management and ot her issues at sub-regional level; the institutional and organisational dimensions of sub-regional planning, management and governance; the remits, roles and methods of collaboration between the various bodies involved in sub-regional planning; and the issues of accountability, participation and stakeholder engagement. A final section of the paper briefly considers the lessons that can be used to help to introduce a more efficient and effective system of sub-regional planning in the English regions.