The Sustainability Shaper is a sustainability decision making and awareness raising tool for the South West of England which is made up of the areas of Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Bristol, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
All the nine English regions are guided by the national sustainable development strategy but each has its own sustainability challenges and approach to tackling them. The Shaper translates the principles and priorities of the national strategy for the South West. It is here to support local and regional decision makers across our public, private and voluntary sectors and includes info for ‘individuals’ too (see Lifestyles).
Many important decisions and processes affecting the South West – for instance around housing and the economy – now take place at the regional level. The ‘Integrated Regional Strategy’ (IRS) draws all these strategies together under 5 commonly agreed aims. One of the roles of the Shaper is support an integrated and sustainable approach to the delivery of the IRS and other key strategies - such as the Regional Economic Strategy, Regional Spatial Strategy and Regional Environment Strategy (see Regional Strategies and Agencies). Regional strategy/agency arrangements will almost certainly be affected by the Government's 'Sub-National Review' (published July 2007).
Regional working is also supported by a range of networks including the Regional Environment Network , Horizon South West , Partnership South West and the Regional Skills Partnership. The Sustainability Shaper is a resource for these forums too.
