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Partnerships for Sustainable rural-urban development: existing evidences – Staffordshire, UK
Councillor Philip Atkins – Leader, Staffordshire County Council
Staffordshire
Population of 831,300
80% rural by area
25% population rural
Peri urban, in that it is influenced by both the Greater Manchester and Birmingham conurbations
Lead for the West Midlands for Peri Urban Regions Platform Europe.
Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)
Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP – established in October 2010. Partnership led by businesses and local authorities across natural economic area
Aim to create the conditions to increase private sector jobs and sustainable economic growth across the LEP area
LEP invited to submit ‘City Deal’ to devolve powers in exchange for responsibility for delivering growth locally
• 50/50/10: 50% increase in GVA and 50,000 jobs created over 10 years
• Provision of sites, energy offer, infrastructure investment, skills, R&D,
culture/sport offer
The Rural Enterprise Academy
Meets identified need to train young people for careers in land-based, rural and environmental sustainability sectors
Sponsored by South Staffordshire College, Veolia and National Farmers Union
Catchment of students from Staffordshire and surrounding areas
Opportunities for students to access a range of facilities and gain first hand experience of work and skills development
Forest of Mercia Community Forest Partnership
Located in a peri-urban environment, covers 92 sq/m across districts of Cannock, Lichfield, South Staffordshire and Walsall in the Black Country
Mixture of habitats including hedgerows, farmland, wetland, grasslands, and wooded areas. Large area classed as brownfield land due to mining legacy
Three key aims to improve the environment, regenerate communities and enhance quality of life
Central Rivers Initiative
Located in the Trent and Tame River Valleys, between urban centres of Burton and Tamworth
Statutory and third sector organisations working with private sector aggregate companies
Restoration of quarries into a sustainable network of wildlife habitats, public amenities and agricultural land
Development of the National Memorial Arboretum
Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Local Nature Partnership
Aims to drive positive change in our local natural environment
Close working with other strategic partnerships on social and economic outcomes – includes Local Enterprise Partnership (shared boundaries)
Develop bids and disperse funding
Ecosystem Services assessment (Staffordshire County Council, Stoke City Council, Natural England)