The development of Regional Centres of Excellence (RCEs) have been guided by a number of policy documents at a national level. Inspire East’s development was guided both by regional policy and a consultative business planning process.
The key documents, summarized below, provide a brief history up to the formation of Inspire East.
The resulting progress of Inspire East can be charted through the other pages in this section.
NATIONAL POLICY CONTEXT
Towards an Urban Renaissance, the Urban Task Force Report (1999)
The Urban Task Force examined the issues facing England’s Towns and Cities and the barriers that prevented them from being the vibrant places that are desired. They identified that one of the obstacles to achieving an urban renaissance was a lace of urban design skills, particularly amongst professionals. Once of the recommendations of the group was “to develop a network of Regional Resource Centres for Urban Development (RRCs). Promoting regional innovation and good practice, co-ordinating urban development training and encouraging community involvement in the regeneration process”.
Our Towns and Cities the Future (the Urban White Paper), the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (2000)
The Urban White Paper saw an evolution in the role and name change to Regional Centres of Excellence (RCEs). The Urban White Paper stated that the Government would “promote centres of excellence by asking regional and local partners including local authorities, higher education institutions, existing architecture and design centres and centres for the built environment, and professional bodies to work with the Regional Development Agencies to determine the best approach to improving skills and training in each region”. The document tasked Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) with leading the development in their region.
New Commitment to Neighbourhood Renewal: National Strategy and Action Plan, Neighbourhood Renewal Unit (2001)
The Action Plan aimed to reverse the spiral of decline in the poorest parts of the country. It included RCEs as having a role to play to improve the skills and knowledge of those involved in neighbourhood renewal. This saw a broadening of the remit for RCE, with them no longer being entirely focused on urban and design issues.
Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (2003)
The Sustainable Communities Plan placed RCEs at the centre of the drive for regeneration and renewal skills. This gave a commitment that the Government will “promote Regional Centre of Excellence which will bring together key agencies and learning providers to drive forward the skills and knowledge agenda for everyone involved in creating sustainable communities.” This saw for the first time RCEs being given an agenda that looked at the creation of new communities in addition to regeneration areas.
The Egan Review of Skills for Sustainable Communities (2004)
The Egan Review looked at the skills and knowledge that were needed to deliver the goals as outlined in the Sustainable Communities Plan. The review concluded that over 100 different occupations needed to be involved. It identified that the skills gaps were in generic skills, for example communication skills and leadership. Four of the Review’s recommendations directly related to the role of RCEs, these included cross-occupational learning.
REGIONAL POLICY CONTEXT
Towns and Cities Strategy and Action Plan (2003), East of England Development Agency (EEDA)
The Towns and Cities strategy made a number of recommendations to achieve an urban renaissance in the region. One recommendation was to “Establish a steering group and prepare a detailed business plan for the Regional Centre of Excellence for regeneration and renaissance”. A number of the other recommendations are being taken forward by Inspire East, these include: developing quality criteria (being taken forward in the Excellence Framework); design quality action (through the role of the Regional Design Action Manager); and to establish an experts panel (this is the Enabling Service).
Scoping Study for a Regional Centre of Excellence for Regeneration, Renewal and Renaissance in the East of England (2003), EEDA
The scope for the role and remit of the RCE for this region was established through a scoping study, which was undertaken alongside the development of the Towns and Cities Strategy. This study has guided the development of Inspire East. The study recommended that the East of England RCE should: enable joint working between the community and built environment agencies; assist in co-ordinating and promoting skills training; and works across sectors and the whole region (in rural and urban areas).
Regional Social Strategy (2003), East of England Regional Assembly
The Strategy identified a number of actions that needed to be taken forward to achieve social inclusion in the region. One of the recommendations specifically relates to Inspire East. It recommends to “Develop the skills of professionals involved in urban design and regeneration through a Regional Centre of Excellence (RCE)).
Shared Vision (the Regional Economic Strategy) (2004), EEDA
Shared Vision the regional economic strategy for the East of England contains a number of goals, one of which is High Quality Places to live, work and visit. Under this goal Shared Vision states “The role for the Regional Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Communities will be to facilitate the sharing of information and skills across the regeneration sectors, urban and rural, public, private and voluntary. …”
Inspire East Business Plan (2004), EEDA
The detailed plan for the role and activities of Inspire East were developed through a consultative business planning process. This involved over 350 people in the region. It established that Inspire East would work across the region, and would recognise the specific needs of parts. It would also bring people together from different occupations and would focus on generic skills.
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