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South West

The South West covers the biggest area of the nine English Regions – 23,837 square kilometres. It is also the most rural and least densely populated region with a total population of just over 5 million people almost a quarter of whom are pensioners - a higher proportion than any other English region.

Key areas for urban growth, including tens of thousands of new homes have been identified for Exeter and East Devon, Plymouth, Taunton Deane, Torbay, Poole, Swindon, Truro and West of England.

The South West has 

• 544 museums, with 7% growth in museum and gallery visits
• 895 libraries with 2007 statistics from CIPFA saying that the region’s libraries are among the most used in the UK. Through MLA and the Big Lottery’s Community Libraries programme, £10.7million has been secured for South West libraries
• 136 archives with 83% of visitors to archives in the South West say that visiting the archive was the main reason for their visit to the area.

MLA South West is working with Arts Council England South West, English Heritage South West and Sport England South West to determine how shared priorities can be delivered.  Shared themes include; regional strategies, improving relationships and developing services with local authorities, place shaping and the Cultural Olympiad.

MLA South West is leading England’s only region-wide ‘Priority Place’ initiative, as part of the Living Places alliance of national cultural agencies. Living Places seeks to create stronger and more vibrant communities through culture, by ensuring that provision of culture and sport is at the heart of the region’s housing growth and renewal. The approach for the South West Priority Place is closely aligned with People, Places and Spaces, the regional cultural infrastructure development strategy and also reflects the draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS). For more information visit Living Places