Economic planning for depressed regions in the United Kingdom

This paper attempts five tasks. First, it briefly traces the collapse of regional economic planning since the mid 1970s. Second, it re‐assesses the case for regional economic planning. Third it asks whether a statutory economic development role for local authorities is the way forward. Fourthly, it critically evaluates current practice in economic development in a depressed area using the Newcastle City region as an example. Finally the paper concludes by outlining the nature of the applied research necessary to underpin a more rational approach to regional economic development planning, referring to the example of the Regional Industrial Research Unit established in the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.