What is the policy/strategy/function/ trying to achieve/do?    

The Economic Regeneration and Delivery Plan (ERDP) aims to aid the council's ambition to develop North Lanarkshire as the place to live, learn, work, invest and visit.

Within the Plan for North Lanarkshire, the ERDP has been outlined within the strategic policy framework under the ‘Improving Economic Opportunities and Outcomes’ priority.

Through successful implementation of the plan, the Council aims to:

• Ensure a housing mix that supports social inclusion and economic growth.
• Refocus town centres and communities to be multi-functional connected places that maximise social, economic and environmental opportunities.
• Maximise the use of our marketable land and assets through improved development in business and industrial infrastructure.
• Market North Lanarkshire as the place to live, learn, work, invest and visit.
• Grow and improve the sustainability and diversity of North Lanarkshire’s economy.

This policy is subject to the FSD and suggests the following about socio-economic disadvantage

Low Income

A quarter of North Lanarkshire’s children are living in poverty (after housing costs) and around 52,300 residents are income deprived according to SIMD 2016 figures.

The ERDP has the potential to lift residents out of poverty through inclusive economic growth by upskilling residents and creating employment opportunities for all

Low wealth

Single adult households, including lone parent households are at very high risk of low wealth. Households with lower educational qualifications and routine manual occupations are also a high risk of low wealth.

The ERDP has the potential to reduce the number of households at risk of low wealth through upskilling and placing people into higher-value jobs as well as ensuring that the benefits of economic growth are experienced by all North Lanarkshire residents, including communities of identity such as lone parents.

Material Deprivation

21% of North Lanarkshire’s children live in families with limited resources. How families experience limited resources differs as material deprivation has complex links with low income.

Some disadvantaged children and young people may lack access to IT hardware and broadband services at home. They may find homework more challenging and this may then impact on the attainment gap.

The ERDP has the potential to lessen some of these impacts through the investment in digital infrastructure across the authority and the associated DigitalNL programme, as one example.

Area Deprivation

North Lanarkshire is covered by 447 datazones (small statistical geographies). 32% (144) of these datazones fall within the 20% most deprived areas across Scotland. Areas such as Cliftonville in Coatbridge and Craigneuk in Wishaw experience deep-rooted deprivation and are within the 5% most deprived areas across Scotland. As part of the ERDP, these communities will be served with the provision of new housing, regenerated town centres, access to improved public transport as well as access to skills and employment opportunities created through inward investment in North Lanarkshire.

There is a vast amount of communities of interest within North Lanarkshire from lone parents to minority ethnic groups, care experienced young people and people who have experienced homelessness to name but a few. As the ERDP has a broad set of aims and objectives, it is envisaged that all residents will experience the benefits related to ERDP policy interventions. This will include people with various protected characteristics and our communities of interest.

Give details of the impact it has on groups and individuals

The ERDP aims to:

• provide affordable housing which supports social inclusion and will benefit particular groups of residents (potentially young people, older people, disabled people and people from ethnic minority groups).
• Business, skills and industry initiatives are likely to be implemented in order to remove or lessen barriers to accessing the labour market faced by some residents within North Lanarkshire as well as widening employment opportunities for all.
• Town centres will be regenerated to provide fit-for-purpose town centre living and to house local services demanded by local residents.
• The investment in our roads will be crucial in enabling improvements to our public transport offering, allowing people easier access to key employment sites within North Lanarkshire as well as culture and leisure facilities across the authority.
• Digital investment will also be crucial in attracting inward investment in North Lanarkshire as well as improving the educational attainment, skills and training required of our residents in order to access forthcoming employment opportunities in North Lanarkshire.

The ERDP will therefore reduce socio-economic disadvantage as well as fostering good relationships between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not due to the improved social inclusion that this plan will promote. Elimination of unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation will also be achieved through the provision of a plan that helps mainstream equalities in the Council’s core business. 

A 2019 report by homelessness charity Shelter stated that adequate housing is vital to our wellbeing and the lack of it can have a significant impact on our current and future health, education and prosperity.

The right to adequate housing has been recognised globally as a human right within the international human rights framework and the treaties which have been ratified by the UK. The universal declaration of Human Rights states that ‘everyone has a right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including…housing’

The ERDP will have a focus on new housing supply across North Lanarkshire that is fit for purpose whether that be for our young people, families, older or disabled residents who have varying housing needs. Therefore, this plan will have a positive impact on the Council’s duty to protect and promote human rights.

What actions/measures will be put in place or are planned to mitigate any adverse impact or promote equality?

The EDRP seeks to improve opportunities in both housing and employment and it is anticipated that people who have protected characteristics will experience improved outcomes.

We will review the ERDP on a regular basis, anticipated annually. At this review we will explore ways in which equality of opportunity, fostering of good relations, promotion of human rights and reducing socio-economic disadvantage can be further achieved. 

Further research and consultation which will take place as the plan progresses will also help inform the ERDP to identify ways in which the policy can be strengthened in this respect.

What is the result/ recommendations of the EqIA?

Introduce the Economic Regeneration Delivery Plan.