Our work in the region

The South West’s economic prosperity needs successful, sustainable communities where businesses can thrive. We play our part in shaping these places, ensuring that the region is a great place both to live and do business.

In the ten years since our launch in April 1999, our overarching aim has been the sustainable development of the region’s economy.  South West England is one of the country’s largest regions and also has one of its most diverse economies so it has been important to identify and support key projects that will all contribute significantly towards meeting these regional objectives.

The following pages feature examples of our work which illustrate this ambition, while also indicating the different priorities for each of the counties in the region.

One of the key aims of the South West RDA has been to ensure that we invest in activities that have the potential to have a far greater impact than just in their immediate locality.   A prime example of this would be our seed-funding of the Eden Project in Cornwall and our work to regenerate parts of central Bristol.

Millennium Square, Bristol city centre

An aerial view of countryside South Devon