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The peri-urban contributionto the sustainable growth of Europe’s cities

Philip ATKINS, West Midlands Leader of Staffordshire County Council

Frankfurt Rhein-Main Region as shown on the PUPLE map

Stadt Frankfurt am Main

High-tech companies, universities, research institutes (selected)

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Zegrzyńskie Lake – multifunctional place for Warsaw agglomeration

Zegrzyńskie Lake, Wieliszew - the water intake point

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Polish Academy of Science (PAN) Research Centre in Jabłonna

Rough visualisation of the Centre

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The Île-de-France regional programme 2008-2013 for peri-urban agriculture

More information : http://mariane.iledefrance.fr/cindocwebjsp/temporaryfiles/tm32109510/DL_066446/RAPCR60-08RAP.pdf

Territories eligible for regional financial support

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Objective : to stimulate, develop and maintain peri-urban agriculture in the Region

Context : Between 10 & 30 km from Paris, the Île-de-France 60% of the green belt is composed of rural areas, 40% of which is agricultural land. These areas are under pressure from urbanisation and must be preserved because they fulfil several important roles :

• An economic function: – Agricultural land in the region is very fertile– Short food supply chains can be implemented to the benefit

of city dwellers

• An environmental function: – Management of key resources for city dwellers (soils, water,

biodiversity, landscapes…)– Management of natural risks like floods

• A social function: – Locations for tourism and leisure

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South Moravian Integrated Public Transport System (IDS JMK)

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• IDS JMK connects all the existing transport modes in the whole South Moravian Region as well as in its capital city of Brno

• It is used by majority of the population in the region

• Came into operation in 2004• Same conditions for travelling in local trains,

regional busses, public city transport of Brno (tram, bus, trolleybus) and city transport in some other cities

Same tickets, same prices and very similar regulations are used in all of these lines

South Moravian Integrated Public Transport System (IDS JMK)

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Positives x Negatives

+ simplification and more regular transport leading to increase in number of people using public transport => fewer cars in the streets, better environment

+ better social cohesion

- missing developed common peri-urban EU policy => Regional integrated system at NUTS III level, constraints NUTS II x NUTS III administration levels

West Midlands UK

PERI-URBAN WEST MIDLANDS

Peri Urban relationships• Labour inter dependencies Staffordshire : 62,000 workers commute into Birmingham conurbation and 19,000 commute the other way. In some areas 50-60% of workers commute to the conurbation. This is a ‘two-way’ critical relationship.

• Economic opportunities : peri urban areas are part of the economic solution to the challenges which face us. We have witnessed business moving away from the conurbation or expanding locally.

• Market opportunities : the conurbation provides economic opportunities for businesses in peri urban areas – markets for products. Food supply, and education and training opportunities in the conurbations and universities eg. Food Enterprise or science parks

Peri-urban Relationships• Inward investment : West Midlands was the birthplace of the industrial revolution and is a ‘locator’ in terms of inward investment. We can exploit this as a link to other international opportunities and develop clusters e.g. high tech. engineering or health

• Corridors of growth : the West Midlands has sought to exploit the main transport corridors given our location in England. 17 million lives within one hour drive

• Regional facilities : major facilities such as the NEC and Birmingham Airport attract major conference and exhibitions • EU Funding – need to ensure that in the urban – rural debate peri urban does not get squeezed out or forgotten

• Regional v Local Debate in UK - LEPs

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15 Regions

www.purple-eu.org