EU structural funds are to be replaced by a UK Shared Prosperity Fund after the EU funding ends in 2020, concerns surround how it will operate, including: whether it will match or exceed EU investment; whether it will be devolved to regional decision-making or tightly controlled from the centre; whether there will be a smooth transition between EU and UK funds (Cowie et al, 2018); and whether the funds will become more politicised (Bell, 2017). Furthermore, the probable choice of the urban-located Local Enterprise Partnerships to manage the new fund has raised concerns over the future equity of distribution between urban and rural areas (Dwyer, 2018), which is of significance for the growing population of the North East that lives outside of its cities.
As this chapter has indicated, the North East region has an influential and varied cultural heritage, outstanding and diverse landscapes, with many distinctive cities, towns and villages, offering the potential for an excellent quality of life. Regional inequalities in wealth, prosperity and health, the effects of austerity, and the implications of Brexit present challenges for the foreseeable future. The outlook is uncertain for the economy and bleak for the vulnerable; however, the strength of the region rests in its people, and the case studies in the following chapters describe some of the initiatives that are offering hope.
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