South Staffordshire
Economic Development Needs Assessment
Client: South Staffordshire District Council
DLP’s Research & Analysis team was commissioned by South Staffordshire District Council to undertake a comprehensive Economic Development Needs Assessment (EDNA) to identify future employment needs across the district for the period 2020 to 2040. The objective was to provide a robust and up-to-date evidence base to inform the emerging Local Plan.
DLP delivered a robust assessment combining quantitative economic modelling with qualitative analysis of commercial market signals, stakeholder engagement and site assessments. Our team conducted detailed analysis of past delivery trends and jobs growth forecasts in order to identify future employment land and floorspace requirements for the district. Key challenges included reconciling different economic forecasts and accounting for the impacts of Brexit and COVID-19. The Research & Analysis team developed an adjusted 'Growth Scenario' that aligned with the LEP's Local Industrial Strategy while reflecting reasonable local growth prospects for key sectors.
The Outcome
The study provided clear policy recommendations on addressing identified employment land needs, including cross-boundary considerations, the role of strategic sites and the West Midlands Interchange development. The depth of analysis and clear justification for the recommended approach should help to strengthen the local authority’s position in future plan-making and examination processes.
“"The Strategic Planning Research Unit (SPRU) were commissioned by South Staffordshire Council to produce an Economic Development Needs Assessment (EDNA) in 2022 and an EDNA update in 2024. We found the team at SPRU very easy to work with and received regular updates as the work progressed and a willingness to engage with the locally distinctive issues the district was facing. This approach avoided an ‘off the shelf’ piece of evidence, but rather one that grappled with these local issues and provided a comprehensive assessment of the employment market in the district and calculation of our objectively assessed needs for employment land to be considered further through our plan-making."”
Edward FoxStrategic Planning Team Manager, South Staffordshire Council
