Devon and Cornwall

We feel that there are strong and positive reasons to select the counties of Devon and Cornwall, including the unitary authorities of Plymouth and Torbay, as our PURE PASCAL ‘region’. The two counties identify themselves as the ‘Peninsula’ of the wider South West region and share a number of socio-economic and demographic features. The exception here is the city of Exeter which has a stronger economic hub than elsewhere in the Peninsula and benefits from being less peripheral. However, Exeter’s inclusion within our selected region is important in terms of the University’s collaborative work and impact within the geographical area under consideration. Our selected region enables us to retain a strong focus and concentrate our resources on a well defined area as well as building on well established partnerships and practical linkages.

In terms of local administration, within Devon County Council there are 8 local government districts (East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge and West Devon) and 2 separately administered Unitary Authorities (City of Plymouth and Torbay Borough). Cornwall’s County Council and 6 District Councils (Caradon, Carrick, Kerrier, Penwith, Restormel and North Cornwall) were replaced by the Cornwall Council Unitary Authority in April 2009.

Our region is covered by the Government Office of the South West (GOSW) and the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA). Both agencies work with regional partners and local people to develop a sustainable economy. SWRDA invests money to build business potential, productivity and growth with an overarching objective to support enterprise and an efficient low carbon economy.

Of relevance to this project, the Peninsula has a strong link to the knowledge economy, green skills and environmental/sustainability agendas as well as an emphasis on alternative forms of enterprise. This reflects a reduction in ‘traditional’ sources of employment as well as a desire to build on the area’s unique assets and is supported by the University of Plymouth and the University of Exeter. Both institutions have solid tradition of research and academic excellence in these areas as well as a commitment to knowledge exchange and support for regional business and communities. For example, there is an Innovation centre at the University of Exeter (and as the pending Exeter Science Park) and similarly a strong relationship between the University of Plymouth and the Tamar Science Park

Indeed, in November 2009, Ed Miliband visited the University of Plymouth to acknowledge not only the environmental/sustainable good practice and world leading research but also to emphasise the need for future facing and sustainable opportunities to be fully exploited. Both universities are also key partners within the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC), serving the far South West.