independence and experience
Testimonials
Invigour performed a vital role as a critical friend which helped us to bring direction and clarity to our responses to the Regional Spatial Strategy both regionally, and in respect of the more advanced Black Country work.
They also brought a wealth of experience of both planning and development, helping us to translate between the two. This resulted not only in evidenced based responses that we could substantiate at Examination in Public helping to protect our reputation, but also for the first time, in a far closer alignment of the Regional Economic Strategy and the Regional Spatial Strategy.
Marie Greer
Director of Sustainable Communities
Advantage West Midlands
It was Milton Keynes Partnership's intention to use the Peer Review both as a marker for addressing any gaps or weaknesses in the MK 2031 outputs and as a best practice tool in terms of ‘lessons learnt’.
The value of the Peer Review Group and Invigour’s role within it, was that it offered a collective set of opinions from very different perspectives, and has subsequently informed the way in which further joint working on the Milton Keynes growth strategy has been taken forward.
Sheila Keene
Strategic Planning and Policy Manager
Milton Keynes Partnership
Strategic Regeneration
Advantage West Midlands
Alignment of Regional Economic Strategy with Regional Spatial Strategy Review
Invigour acted on behalf of the Agency to assist them in aligning the emerging regional planning review being undertaken by the West Midlands Regional Assembly with the Regional Economic Strategy.
Work initially focused on the Black Country Study and then progressed to the second phase of activity as directed by the Regional Development Agency (RDA) to:
- Review the evidence base and the issues for the RDA
- Identify the gaps in the available evidence
- To contribute to the RDA’s response at the various stages
- To support the RDA at the public examinations
The process undertaken by Invigour ensured that planning strategies were based upon a practical response to the RDA’s activities which were in turn grounded in reality; the reality of the market place, of the RDA’s powers and budgets, and the need to strike the proper balance between the planning process and economic development imperatives.