Checklist for Economic Development

Lasting regional economic success will rely on achieving sustainable economic growth which must be clearly understood to mean low carbon, resource efficient development which enhances environmental quality and supports inclusive social progress, in ways which meet the diverse needs of the region’s local economies and workforces.

With measurement of the South West’s ‘eco-footprint’ revealing that if the region’s consumption patterns were replicated worldwide we would need nearly two extra planets to sustain us, it is clear that we need to re-think our approach to the regional economy if we are to fulfill the responsibilities, as well as unlock the opportunities, of sustainability.

The Regional Economic Strategy gives a clarity of focus for reconciling economic dynamism with environmental stewardship, stating that ‘South West England will demonstrate that economic growth can be secured within environmental limits’. Achieving a thriving ‘one planet economy’ is crucial – paying particular regard to the increased urgency and opportunities around the climate change mitigation agenda.

Do YOU shape up? Are you...  


 ...developing sustainability learning and skills?
 Will your project/development support businesses and other economic partners to develop sustainability learning and skills?
Will it help to explain and promote the ‘what’, ‘why’ and ‘how’ of sustainability?
Will it support ‘systemic thinking’, professional skills and leadership for sustainable solutions?
Will it support the development of new learning and skills to help deliver more sustainable business practices, including those for low carbon technologies?
Will it support the development of a technical and professional skills base required to deliver and export sustainable solutions?

...improving physical and mental well-being?
Will economic development activity support physical and mental well-being through by promoting healthy, balanced lifestyles and clean, safe and green environments?
Will the project maximise opportunities for workforce well-being and therefore improve productivity? This could include flexible working conditions (eg homeworking, staggered working times etc), promotion of physical exercise (including cycling/walking to/from work) and ensuring onsite facilities promote well-being eg provision of green space, relaxation/’chill out zones’ etc?
Will it maximise opportunities to support healthy eating? eg catering facilities offering locally sourced (ideally organic) fruit and vegetables, thereby also supporting local producers.
Will it support supportive and inclusive communities?

            ...improving equality in meeting basic needs?
 Will your project/development support the tackling of inequalities  (prioritising those most in need) in access to decent, affordable and adaptable housing/essential goods & services/adequate income levels/safe and satisfying employment, learning, and leisure opportunities?
Will the project take measures to involve disadvantaged groups? For example this could be pursued by engaging social enterprises.
Will the project ensure that opportunities for voluntary work are considered?
Will the project ensure an equitable approach to equality and diversity is incorporated ie on age, disability, gender, race, religion and sexual orientation?  

                 ...being resource wise?
Will the project/development help to reduce the region/local area’s consumption of resources and secure long term savings by reducing the need for high carbon activity/adopting/promoting high standards of resource efficiency (ie on material, waste, water, energy etc.)?
Will any physical development activity (new build or regeneration) incorporate best practice for sustainable construction? See the South West’s sustainable construction charter Future Foundations and standards enshrined within Ecohomes, BREEAM and the Code for Sustainable Homes.
Will it maximise opportunities for the integration of onsite or locally sourced renewables, helping to secure a long term energy supply and reduce fossil fuel derived pollution?
Will it incorporate/promote low carbon/car-free access to help prevent transport related pollution?  


                ...supporting thriving low carbon economies?
Will the project/development boost competitiveness by adopting a zero/low carbon approach which eliminates (or reduces as far as possible) associated CO2 emissions? Key sources of emissions such as transport and energy should be identified and a plan of action integrated (including the appropriate siting of facilities, ensuring low carbon/car-free access) to ensure these are minimised as far as possible. Where CO2 emissions can not be avoided, will measures be carefully selected to off-set these be taken?
Will the project support innovation/enterprise for low carbon technologies/ approaches to economic development? As above, will the project/development integrate high standards of energy efficiency onsite/locally sourced renewables/ICT innovations (eg video conferencing) to help support a low carbon economy?
Will the project/development ensure that new economic opportunities are carefully matched to local workforce needs identified through informed, ongoing consultation with the community and local partners?  

                ...reducing high carbon travel?
Will the project integrate a sustainable transport plan which reduces the need for high carbon travel (eg by appropriate siting of business facilities, supporting access to ICT and homeworking) and supports a low carbon approach to travel eg by offering car-free access and emphasising the use of public transport, cycling and walking and supporting home working and ICT innovations (eg video conferencing)?
Will the project/development support a low carbon approach to the distribution of goods ie considering alternatives to high carbon modes of transport, such as air/road. (Trains are the cleanest forms of mass transport - producing on average only a ¼ of the CO2 that cars emit for the same distance and just over 10% compared to domestic aviation). Where goods need to be transported by road, the use of bio-fuels should be considered.  
Will the development ensure a proportion of goods and services is sourced locally or regionally to reduce the potential for high carbon travel? A sustainable procurement policy could be adopted, ensuring internally a minimum of goods/services is sourced locally/regionally and externally encouraging suppliers to adopt a similar approach.
Will it raise awareness of the reasons why a low carbon approach to travel is being adopted in its communications with staff, customers and shareholders?

...using local and ethical goods & services?
Will the project/development use locally/regionally sourced goods and services within its development and ongoing operations to boost the region’s local economies?
Will the development/project establish a sustainable procurement policy to ensure that ‘green’/’ethical’ goods/services are sourced? As above, suppliers should be encouraged to adopt a similar approach. 


                 ...enhancing local distinctiveness and diversity including biodiversity? 
 Will the project/development maximise opportunities for local distinctiveness and diversity to be enhanced and celebrated? eg new build or refurbishment programmes should ensure that local materials/techniques are used to enhance distinctiveness.
Will the project/development ensure that plans for estate management take full account of the natural environment and biodiversity and maximise opportunities for these to be protected and ideally enhanced?
Will the project maximise the economic opportunities that can be gained from the region’s distinctive and diversity landscape in a sustainable way? For example, tourism businesses should integrate good practice within their operations (see the South West Green Tourism Business Scheme) and promote visitor awareness of the action they can take to keep the South West special, see the Future Footprints campaign.
Will the project maximise opportunities for people to learn about their history and cultural heritage? 

                   ...helping everyone to join in public decision-making?
Will the project/development support wider, more informed participation in public and community decision- making to foster citizenship and involve people in the solutions to local and global challenges?
Will the project ensure that local communities (including hard to reach groups) have the opportunity to influence and become actively involved in the project’s delivery? Fostering ownership by the local community will enhance the project/development’s chances of becoming more successful and sustainable in the long term. 

                   ...taking a long term approach?
Will the project/development consider the needs of future generations including mitigating and adapting to climate change?
Will its genuine sustainability and success be ensured by pursuing lasting, integrated ‘win-win-win’ outcomes for the economy, society and environment (thinking ahead to the next 5 to 50 years and beyond)?
Will the project ensure that the definition of sustainable economic development is used to inform its development and on-going management? The concept of a ‘One Planet Economy’ and taking a low carbon approach should be integrated throughout.
Will the project/development ensure that any additional upfront costs of implementing high standards of sustainable construction are considered against the long term financial savings that will be made? The costs of not applying high standards of sustainable construction should be considered eg retrofitting of climate adaptation measures and the high costs of fossil fuel derived energy.