Sustainable Development

Sustainability Part 1 | Sustainability Part 2

Sustainable development aims to enable all people to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life without compromising the quality of life of future generations.  It is a key government policy at both national and regional level, and is an issue that affects every business, organisation and individual.  More information on the national picture is available at:

http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/index.asp

All RDAs have a statutory duty to “contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in the UK”.  One NorthEast demonstrates this commitment by structuring the current RES around the themes of Business, People and Place.  Many businesses increasingly see the pursuit of sustainable development as the economic driver of market opportunity.  Sustainable development is also seen as allowing longer term competitive advantage to be gained. 

The Independent Performance Appraisal highlighted our approach to sustainable development as one of the areas for improvement.  Additionally new Government white papers for planning and energy, along with new roles for RDAs with regard to sub-national review, have identified enhanced roles and responsibilities for the Agency in the achievement of sustainable development. 

As part of this improvement and enhancement of roles One NorthEast has embedded the achievement of sustainable development into the RES Action Plan and the Corporate Plan.  We have also integrated a sustainable development toolkit into the Agency’s business process (replacing the appendices contained in the Business Case).  These activities have assisted the Agency to ‘walk the talk’ and ensure our internal systems and operations, such as office management, flexible working, travel policies and equality and diversity policies, are rigorous and ‘best in class’. 

Inclusion of the sustainable development toolkit in One NorthEast’s business process ensures that consideration is given to sustainability issues for all projects.  The toolkit contains eight themes, and once completed produces a PDF report which is to be attached to the Business Case.  The themes contained in the Sustainable Development Toolkit are:

 1.  High Quality and Sustainable Design
 2.  Equality and Diversity
 3.  Sustainable Consumption and Production
 4.  Climate Change and Energy
 5.  Natural, Historic and Cultural Assets
 6.  Building Social Capital
 7.  Rural Communities
 8.  Healthy Living

The toolkit is available at http://www.onenortheast.co.uk/page/toolkit.cfm

The focus of the toolkit is to ensure sustainable development is a major consideration in all the projects funded by the Agency.  Significant investments in renewable energy, sustainable production and a wide range of other projects, will contribute not only to economic development but also to social and environmental improvements in the region. 

One NorthEast is working with the Regional Sustainable Development Champion Body (Sustaine), Government Office North East, and the Regional Assembly to integrate regional strategies and further develop the North East’s own Integrated Regional Framework.  The Integrated Regional Framework contains an updated and strengthened sustainability appraisal tool which can be used alongside, and to help complete, the Agency’s sustainability toolkit.

Supporting Documents and Downloads

Integrated Regional Framework [pdf] (2.18 MB)

Smart Productivity - Securing sustainable development in the English regions [pdf] (4.09 MB)

Smart Growth - Sustainable Development in the English Regions [pdf] (768 KB)