Evaluating regional spatial imaginaries: the Oxford–Cambridge Arc

The process of imagination is central to region formation, underpinning the spatial definition and territorial bounding areas, development identity institutional capacity, cultivation social relations networks. While recent academic contributions have crystallized certain theoretical dimensions, attempts evaluate nature efficacy regional imaginaries remain ad hoc. In this paper we derive a general evaluative frame six associated criteria against which particular can be appraised. These are then deployed two major episodes in construction putative ‘Oxford–Cambridge Arc’ southern England.