We have collated some of the key legacy insights and information about RDAs that we think will be of use to the local economic development and regeneration community in the future.
In this article “RDAs – what can we learn?” We ask what the objective lessons were, and what can be learned to inform future policy and practice. This article is very much an attempt to rise above the political rhetoric.
RDA-authored legacy documents
RDAs left a range of legacy documents, evaluation evidence and practical lessons for future economic development arrangements and practitioners. Each Regional Development Agency, in the 24 months prior to its closure, undertook to put together some practical lessons and insights, as well as documents that promote a positive legacy.
Its beyond our scope to critically evaluate these documents – readers will have to do that for themselves. However, these documents do represent some form of corporate memory. Since RDAs were closed with no succession arrangements, and very little in the way of staff retention, then they will often be the best reference documents available in the future.
The Northern Way
The Northern Way was a unique initiative, bringing together partners across North of England to work together to improve the economic performance of the North, and re-balance the UK. Its final evaluation report is now available.
Advantage West Midlands (AWM)
Building Our Future: Advantage West Midlands a Decade in Review
Making a Difference: the impact of Advantage West Midlands 1999-2009
East of England Development Agency (EEDA)
Improving the economy of the East of England 1999-2011
Lessons learnt in promoting economic development in the East of England
East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA)
EMDA arranged with Nottingham Trent University to implement a knowledge bank which is a repository for EMDA related documents, along with an Introduction to the EMDA knowledge bank. Since Nottingham Trent University own the copyright to these reports (although as a creative commons license) it seems inappropriate to hold these files on this site.
What the knowledge bank holds is an overview of the regional impact of EMDA, a report on EMDA’s regeneration legacy and a number of handbooks by thematic areas (enterprise support, inward investment, tourism, low carbon, innovation and STEM).
London Development Agency (LDA)
A Decade of Work: the impact of LDA
North West Development Agency (NWDA)
Making Big Things Happen – The Economic Impact of the NWDA 1999-2009
One North East (ONE)
One North East Legacy
South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)
SEEDA – 10 years of transforming the South East