All RDAs across England are closing by March 2012
(see transition and closure section).
With our resources reducing steadily, this page has not been recently updated and the information below may not be current.
If in doubt, please contact us directly.
Devon
Economic overview
Devon has a large and diverse economy, within which the South
West RDA supports a range of measures from key regional
infrastructure projects and urban expansion at Exeter to rural
regeneration in North Devon, market towns and the national
parks.
The decline of a number of core industries, notably fishing,
mining and farming in the county qualified Devon for the European
Union Objective 2 status between 2000 and 2006. The county can now
benefit from the European Regional Development Fund Competitiveness programme,
which runs from 2007-13 and is administered by the South West RDA.
The major focus for new European programmes is innovation,
competitiveness and the development of employment and skills for
the European workforce.
Exeter and Plymouth
A significant focus for RDA activity in Devon is on the two
major economic hubs of Exeter and Plymouth, both drivers of the
regional economy and whose influence extends far out into their
respective hinterlands.
In Exeter, the Agency is using the Regional
Infrastructure Fund to bring forward the East of Exeter Growth area
- the main business and housing growth area for Exeter over the
next 20 years, with the projected capacity to create 9,000
jobs.
A total of £22 million is being invested through the RIF, aimed
at forward financing key infrastructure including Junction 29
improvements and the new Cranbrook railway station which in turn
will unlock a wide range of projects. These include the first phase
of the new community at Cranbrook and the development of Exeter
Science Park (with Exeter University, the Met Office and the local
authorities) to create high value jobs and inward investment in
science and research businesses.
Also in the Growth Area the RDA recently invested in the
establishment of the East of Exeter Skills Academy in partnership
with Flybe, with building work on the project now under way.
In Plymouth, the RDA’s objective is to support the sustainable
growth of the city’s population from 250,000 to 300,000 within 20
years, and in the process create 42,000 new jobs in the Plymouth
sub-region as set out in the Local Economic Strategy for the
city
Projects in Plymouth include: supporting the establishment of
the Tamar Science Park and the Plymouth International Medical and
Technology Park, the regeneration of Royal William Yard and major
developments at National Marine Aquarium and the University of
Plymouth. The latter includes the Peninsular Research Institute for
Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE), a joint initiative with the
University of Exeter, funded by the RDA, European Union and the
universities themselves.
Other projects
In Brixham, the agency has committed an £8.4m investment to an
ongoing regeneration project, with work progressing well on the
first phase, a new fish market and employment space on the
harbour.
The Agency’s work in rural areas is being focused through the
Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), with Local Action
Groups in place and covering Greater Dartmoor, South Devon Coastal
Torridge and North Devon, Blackdowns and East Devon - which will
support rural regeneration and business support projects with
£9.8m.