About My Region

Geography

The East Midlands is England’s fourth largest region covering an area of 15607km2.

It consists of six counties:

• Derbyshire;
• Leicestershire;
• Lincolnshire;
• Nottinghamshire;
• Northamptonshire; and
• Rutland.

The region’s main population centres are the cities of

• Derby,
• Nottingham,
• Leicester and
• Lincoln;

and the towns of

• Northampton and
• Mansfield.

(Source: EMDA Regional Economic Strategy http://www.emda.org.uk/res/docs/RESflourishingFINALA4.pdf )

Regional economy

While parts of the East Midlands has been affected by colliery closures (notably North Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire) there has been substantial regeneration.

The regional economy is diverse with a high dependency on manufacturing and an important agricultural economy in areas such as Lincolnshire.

Regional Development Agency

The East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) promotes economic growth but also stresses that development must be sustainable. It wants to transform the region to a low-carbon economy.

EMDA’s priorities include:

• promoting renewable energy; and
• more sustainable waste management.

EMDA’s vision for the region is that:

“by 2020 the East Midlands will be a ‘flourishing region’. Increasingly prosperous and productive it will enjoy levels of sustainable economic well-being and a quality of life higher than the European average and comparable with the best in the world”

(Source:http://www.emda.org.uk/res/docs/RESflourishingFINALA4.pdf ).

Regional Economic Strategy

Strategic priorities for EMDA stated in the Regional Economic Strategy include sub priorities such as:

• Providing business support on resource efficiency.
• Responding to climate change.
• Exploitation of new and growing low carbon markets.
• Ensuring an infrastructure for a low carbon economy.
• Protecting and enhancing our environmental infrastructure to ensure sustainable growth.
• Protecting and enhancing green infrastructure through environmental stewardship.
• Promoting and investing in diverse and localised waste management.