Exmoor National Park Authority is pleased to present a report by the new economics foundation which proposes a Sustainable Economic Development Strategy for the Greater Exmoor area. The nef study involved interviews with over 100 people working and studying across the Greater Exmoor area. You can dowload the 4 page Short Summary and Main Report (without appedices) here. (PDF, 573KB)
Your involvement in helping deliver the Actions in this Strategy is now needed.
nef propose that that the National Park status provides a unique framework for using the environment as an economic driver for delivering increased well-being while respecting environmental limits. Greater Exmoor can provide an example of this type of ‘one planet development’ for the South West Region.
nef focused on three central and closely interlinked areas of economic activity in Greater Exmoor: Agriculture and Food, Tourism and Recreation and Building & Renewable Energy. A number of critical themes cut across these areas, including business support, youth, training and affordable housing. The report identifies 43 suggested Actions and 13 Ideas that should provide a basis for a way forward.
The Actions highlight opportunities where focusing on local assets & new ideas, putting people in touch and coordinating the flow of ideas, knowledge & communication, providing training & skills development for individuals & businesses and injecting financial investment could have significant impacts on local money flows, the long-term development of Exmoor and peoples’ well-being.
Taken together, and placed within a model of local economic development that starts with local assets; links the characteristics of the asset base to the diversity, dynamics and resilience of the local economy; and prioritises actions that strengthen local money flows, these Actions and Ideas provide the underpinnings of an integrated, area-based strategy for sustainable development.
The report was funded by the South West Regional Development Agency, ENPA, West Somerset Council, North Devon District Council, Devon County Council & Somerset County Council. For a copy of the full report, including appendices, please call ENPA on 01398 323665.