The Integrated Regional Strategy (IRS) Framework draws together the key issues and challenges for the East Midlands, providing the overarching picture of what is happening in the region. It has been the catalyst for strong partnership working across the East Midlands over the past 8 years. It has been revised and refreshed during this time to make sure it remains updated and relevant. The IRS Framework has been developed to enable all policies across the region to contribute as fully as possible to improving people’s quality of life and wellbeing.

The first part of the IRS Framework sets out the region’s vision, priorities and objectives for a more sustainable future. It provides the context for policy makers working at the regional, sub regional and local levels and ensures that different policy areas –environmental, social and economic - are co-ordinated and integrated.

The second part of the IRS Framework provides the overarching picture of what is happening in the region. Policy makers can see how their area of work fits within the wider context, its impact upon other policy areas and also gain an understanding of these other issues and how the different agendas can be integrated.

Cross-cutting challenges such as addressing inequalities and climate change are addressed as well as other regional challenges including housing, health, the environment and the economy. Links to further information are provided throughout the Framework so more detail can be found as required.

The IRS Framework document (528KB PDF) can be downloaded here. 

The IRS Summary leaflet (150KB PDF) can be downloaded here.

The State of the Region work has been developed to monitor how well the region is doing and highlight where there is still work to be done. The message it presents is that the overall quality of life in the region is improving but inequalities still remain. The East Midlands Integrated Toolkit (EMIT) has been developed to assist policy makers and project managers ensure policies and projects contribute as fully as possible towards a more sustainable future.

The Regional Assembly is very grateful to the experts from across the region who have contributed to this IRS Framework. This IRS Framework has been refreshed in light of consultation undertaken jointly with the Government Office for the East Midlands (GOEM) and East Midlands Development Agency (emda) to establish an overview of key sustainable development priorities affecting local areas. In addition, it has been refreshed to ensure consistency with national priorities and principles.
 

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