Erskine | case Studies
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Case studies
West Lancashire District Council: Rural economy study
The report completed by Erskine with partners TBR Economics ‘unearthed’ the importance of food in the economy.
West Lancashire Local Strategic Partnership in partnership with the District Council asked Erskine to look at how the rural economy works in the district; the types of businesses that are there, what they are doing and what they need to be more successful, as well as the barriers they encounter which could prevent further growth.
Erskine analysed the surveys and developed a detailed action plan. A summary of the actions are:
- Develop a West Lancashire ‘appellation’ which would allow the horticulturalists to sell their produce at premium price as opposed to being pressured by the supermarkets
- Develop a food forum which would allow networking and give a combined voice to the supply chain
- Look to extend public transport and business sponsored community transport
- Develop a business panel to advise the councils and Local Strategic Partnership on policy, planning and business support
- Develop a social enterprise for recycling cardboard (the food industry creates an enormous amount of waste)
- Improve the relationship between the planning department and the business community by better communication
- Develop a masterplan around the brownfield sites in the are
- Create a grant aid scheme to encourage developers to invest in business premises as opposed to just housing
I was impressed by the ‘magazine’ style summary which will prove extremely valuable for us in promoting the rural study and its findings.... Also the discussion forum which we found very useful in terms of managing the delivery of the study and exchanging views within the project team....
It has been fun and interesting and I have particularly welcomed your unique approach and enthusiasm to the work which is very refreshing compared to most other planning & regeneration consultancies.
Jonathan Noad: Economic Regeneration Manager, West Lancashire District Council
Downloads
West Lancashire rural study 2006 - summary (563 KB PDF)
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