This final report is in six parts.
First, it identifies the nature and scale of the challenges to the future well-being and prosperity of England and the English population.
Secondly, it analyses the causes of these challenges, in particular the deep structural forces in our economy, seeking to identify those challenges that need to be addressed at the national level. It goes on, in the third, fourth and fifth parts, to consider current policies and their limits, and then to set out some of the country’s development needs and priorities and the lessons from elsewhere on how to address development issues of national significance.
Finally, this report explains how a Development Framework for England could take forward the agenda for action contained in the recommendations, which are summarised on pages 8-10 and explained throughout the report.
In addition to the specific recommendations, the report includes panels showing in more detail the kinds of key projects that Commissioners believe are worthy of consideration in the context of any Development Framework for England being contemplated. Other panels contain excerpts from evidence submitted to the Commission.
The Commissioners are not presenting a fully detailed Development Framework for England but are setting out some of the key issues in the country’s development that the Government and others need to address, whether or not a national framework is employed to assist in taking the actions forward. These, like the basic recommendations, are for wider consideration and debate.
The Commission hopes that they may usefully inform other related work, in particular by the English Regions Network, the RDAs network, the Royal Town Planning Institute and the National Planning Forum.
