Spatial studies and strategy for future uncertainty: Ray Green looks at some issues for regional studies in a period of unprecedented uncertainty

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has already made clear that economic growth is to be a priority for local planning authorities in the UK. The case for regional strategies rests mainly on their potential to offer a means of anticipating a long-term future as the basis for building Local Plans, but every demographic, industrial and economic statistic of the last 65 years have shown how difficult to foresee major shifts in the economy and redistribution of employment and industry.