diff --git a/ethosu/vela/architecture_features.py b/ethosu/vela/architecture_features.py
index 9ca4304..7b6c3be 100644
--- a/ethosu/vela/architecture_features.py
+++ b/ethosu/vela/architecture_features.py
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
-from .errors import OptionError
+from .errors import CliOptionError
+from .errors import ConfigOptionError
 from .ethos_u55_regs.ethos_u55_regs import resampling_mode
 from .numeric_util import full_shape
 from .numeric_util import round_up
@@ -131,6 +132,12 @@
         return [e.value for e in cls]
 
 
+@enum.unique
+class MemPort(enum.Enum):
+    Axi0 = enum.auto()
+    Axi1 = enum.auto()
+
+
 class ArchitectureFeatures:
     """This class is a container for various parameters of the Ethos-U core
     and system configuration that can be tuned, either by command line
@@ -169,26 +176,29 @@
     OFMSplitDepth = 16
     SubKernelMax = Block(8, 8, 65536)
 
+    DEFAULT_CONFIG = "internal-default"
+
     def __init__(
         self,
-        vela_config: ConfigParser,
+        vela_config_files,
         accelerator_config,
         system_config,
+        memory_mode,
         override_block_config,
         block_config_limit,
-        global_memory_clock_scale,
         max_blockdep,
         weight_estimation_scaling,
+        verbose_config,
     ):
         accelerator_config = accelerator_config.lower()
-        self.vela_config = vela_config
         if accelerator_config not in Accelerator.member_list():
-            raise OptionError("--accelerator-config", self.accelerator_config, "Unknown accelerator configuration")
+            raise CliOptionError("--accelerator-config", self.accelerator_config, "Unknown accelerator configuration")
         self.accelerator_config = Accelerator(accelerator_config)
         accel_config = ArchitectureFeatures.accelerator_configs[self.accelerator_config]
         self.config = accel_config
 
         self.system_config = system_config
+        self.memory_mode = memory_mode
         self.is_ethos_u65_system = self.accelerator_config in (Accelerator.Ethos_U65_256, Accelerator.Ethos_U65_512)
 
         self.max_outstanding_dma = 2 if self.is_ethos_u65_system else 1
@@ -201,14 +211,6 @@
         self.override_block_config = override_block_config
         self.block_config_limit = block_config_limit
 
-        self.global_memory_clock_scale = global_memory_clock_scale
-        if self.global_memory_clock_scale <= 0.0 or self.global_memory_clock_scale > 1.0:
-            raise Exception(
-                "Invalid global_memory_clock_scale = "
-                + str(self.global_memory_clock_scale)
-                + " (must be > 0.0 and <= 1.0)"
-            )
-
         self.max_blockdep = max_blockdep
         self.weight_estimation_scaling = weight_estimation_scaling
 
@@ -220,20 +222,13 @@
         self.num_elem_wise_units = accel_config.elem_units
         self.num_macs_per_cycle = dpu_min_height * dpu_min_width * dpu_dot_product_width * dpu_min_ofm_channels
 
-        self.memory_clock_scales = np.zeros(MemArea.Size)
-        self.memory_port_widths = np.zeros(MemArea.Size)
+        # Get system configuration and memory mode
+        self._get_vela_config(vela_config_files, verbose_config)
 
-        # Get system configuration
-        self.__read_sys_config(self.is_ethos_u65_system)
+        self.axi_port_width = 128 if self.is_ethos_u65_system else 64
+        self.memory_bandwidths_per_cycle = self.axi_port_width * self.memory_clock_scales / 8
 
-        # apply the global memory clock scales to the individual ones from the system config
-        for mem in MemArea.all():
-            self.memory_clock_scales[mem] *= self.global_memory_clock_scale
-
-        self.memory_clocks = self.memory_clock_scales * self.npu_clock
-        self.memory_bandwidths_per_cycle = self.memory_port_widths * self.memory_clock_scales / 8
-
-        self.memory_bandwidths_per_second = self.memory_bandwidths_per_cycle * self.npu_clock
+        self.memory_bandwidths_per_second = self.memory_bandwidths_per_cycle * self.core_clock
 
         # Get output/activation performance numbers
         self._generate_output_perf_tables(self.accelerator_config)
@@ -303,7 +298,7 @@
         self.cycles_weight = 40
         self.max_sram_used_weight = 1000
 
-        if self.is_ethos_u65_system and (self.fast_storage_mem_area != self.feature_map_storage_mem_area):
+        if self.is_spilling_enabled():
             self.max_sram_used_weight = 0
 
         # Shared Buffer Block allocations
@@ -582,100 +577,226 @@
 
         return blockdep
 
-    def cpu_cycle_estimate(self, op):
+    def is_spilling_enabled(self):
         """
-        Gets estimated performance of a CPU operation, based on a linear model of intercept, slope,
-        specified in the vela config file, in ConfigParser file format (.ini file).
-        Example configuration snippet:
-        [CpuPerformance.MyOperationType]
-        Cortex-Mx.intercept=<some float value>
-        Cortex-Mx.slope=<some float value>
+        Spilling is a feature that allows the Ethos-U to use a dedicated SRAM as a cache for various types of data
         """
-        section = "CpuPerformance." + op.type.name
-        if self.vela_config is not None and section in self.vela_config:
-            op_config = self.vela_config[section]
-            try:
-                intercept = float(op_config.get(self.cpu_config + ".intercept", op_config["default.intercept"]))
-                slope = float(op_config.get(self.cpu_config + ".slope", op_config["default.slope"]))
-                n_elements = op.inputs[0].elements()
-                cycles = intercept + n_elements * slope
-                return cycles
-            except Exception:
-                print("Error: Reading CPU cycle estimate in vela configuration file, section {}".format(section))
-                raise
+        return (
+            self._mem_port_mapping(self.cache_mem_area) == MemArea.Sram and self.cache_mem_area != self.arena_mem_area
+        )
 
-        print("Warning: No configured CPU performance estimate for", op.type)
-        return 0
+    def _mem_port_mapping(self, mem_port):
+        mem_port_mapping = {MemPort.Axi0: self.axi0_port, MemPort.Axi1: self.axi1_port}
+        return mem_port_mapping[mem_port]
 
-    def __read_sys_config(self, is_ethos_u65_system):
-        """
-        Gets the system configuration with the given name from the vela configuration file
-        Example configuration snippet:
-        [SysConfig.MyConfigName]
-        npu_freq=<some float value>
-        cpu=Cortex-Mx
-        ...
-        """
-        # Get system configuration from the vela configuration file
-        if self.vela_config is None:
-            print("Warning: Using default values for system configuration")
+    def _set_default_sys_config(self):
+        print(f"Warning: Using {ArchitectureFeatures.DEFAULT_CONFIG} values for system configuration")
+        # ArchitectureFeatures.DEFAULT_CONFIG values
+        if self.is_ethos_u65_system:
+            # Default Ethos-U65 system configuration
+            # Ethos-U65 Client-Server: SRAM (16 GB/s) and DRAM (12 GB/s)
+            self.core_clock = 1e9
+            self.axi0_port = MemArea.Sram
+            self.axi1_port = MemArea.Dram
+            self.memory_clock_scales[MemArea.Sram] = 1.0
+            self.memory_clock_scales[MemArea.Dram] = 0.75  # 3 / 4
         else:
-            section_key = "SysConfig." + self.system_config
-            if section_key not in self.vela_config:
-                raise OptionError("--system-config", self.system_config, "Unknown system configuration")
+            # Default Ethos-U55 system configuration
+            # Ethos-U55 High-End Embedded: SRAM (4 GB/s) and Flash (0.5 GB/s)
+            self.core_clock = 500e6
+            self.axi0_port = MemArea.Sram
+            self.axi1_port = MemArea.OffChipFlash
+            self.memory_clock_scales[MemArea.Sram] = 1.0
+            self.memory_clock_scales[MemArea.OffChipFlash] = 0.125  # 1 / 8
 
-        try:
-            self.npu_clock = float(self.__sys_config("npu_freq", "500e6"))
-            self.cpu_config = self.__sys_config("cpu", "Cortex-M7")
+    def _set_default_mem_mode(self):
+        print(f"Warning: Using {ArchitectureFeatures.DEFAULT_CONFIG} values for memory mode")
+        # ArchitectureFeatures.DEFAULT_CONFIG values
+        if self.is_ethos_u65_system:
+            # Default Ethos-U65 memory mode
+            # Dedicated SRAM: SRAM is only used by the Ethos-U
+            self.const_mem_area = MemPort.Axi1
+            self.arena_mem_area = MemPort.Axi1
+            self.cache_mem_area = MemPort.Axi0
+            self.cache_sram_size = 384 * 1024
+        else:
+            # Default Ethos-U65 memory mode
+            self.const_mem_area = MemPort.Axi1
+            self.arena_mem_area = MemPort.Axi0
+            self.cache_mem_area = MemPort.Axi0
 
-            self.memory_clock_scales[MemArea.Sram] = float(self.__sys_config("Sram_clock_scale", "1"))
-            self.memory_port_widths[MemArea.Sram] = int(self.__sys_config("Sram_port_width", "64"))
+    def _get_vela_config(self, vela_config_files, verbose_config):
+        """
+        Gets the system configuration and memory modes from one or more Vela configuration file(s) or uses some
+        defaults.
+        """
 
-            self.memory_clock_scales[MemArea.OnChipFlash] = float(self.__sys_config("OnChipFlash_clock_scale", "1"))
-            self.memory_port_widths[MemArea.OnChipFlash] = int(self.__sys_config("OnChipFlash_port_width", "64"))
+        # all properties are optional and are initialised to a value of 1 (or the equivalent)
+        self.core_clock = 1
+        self.axi0_port = MemArea(1)
+        self.axi1_port = MemArea(1)
+        self.memory_clock_scales = np.ones(MemArea.Size)
+        self.const_mem_area = MemPort(1)
+        self.arena_mem_area = MemPort(1)
+        self.cache_mem_area = MemPort(1)
+        self.cache_sram_size = 1
 
-            self.memory_clock_scales[MemArea.OffChipFlash] = float(
-                self.__sys_config("OffChipFlash_clock_scale", "0.25")
+        # read configuration file(s)
+        self.vela_config = None
+
+        if vela_config_files is not None:
+            self.vela_config = ConfigParser()
+            self.vela_config.read(vela_config_files)
+
+        # read system configuration
+        sys_cfg_section = "System_Config." + self.system_config
+
+        if self.vela_config is not None and self.vela_config.has_section(sys_cfg_section):
+            self.core_clock = float(self._read_config(sys_cfg_section, "core_clock", self.core_clock))
+            self.axi0_port = MemArea[self._read_config(sys_cfg_section, "axi0_port", self.axi0_port)]
+            self.axi1_port = MemArea[self._read_config(sys_cfg_section, "axi1_port", self.axi1_port)]
+
+            for mem_area in (self.axi0_port, self.axi1_port):
+                self.memory_clock_scales[mem_area] = float(
+                    self._read_config(
+                        sys_cfg_section, mem_area.name + "_clock_scale", self.memory_clock_scales[mem_area]
+                    )
+                )
+
+        elif self.system_config == ArchitectureFeatures.DEFAULT_CONFIG:
+            self._set_default_sys_config()
+
+        elif vela_config_files is None:
+            raise CliOptionError("--config", vela_config_files, "CLI Option not specified")
+
+        else:
+            raise CliOptionError(
+                "--system-config",
+                self.system_config,
+                "Section {} not found in Vela config file".format(sys_cfg_section),
             )
-            self.memory_port_widths[MemArea.OffChipFlash] = int(self.__sys_config("OffChipFlash_port_width", "32"))
 
-            self.memory_clock_scales[MemArea.Dram] = float(self.__sys_config("Dram_clock_scale", "1"))
-            self.memory_port_widths[MemArea.Dram] = int(self.__sys_config("Dram_port_width", "32"))
+        # read the memory mode
+        mem_mode_section = "Memory_Mode." + self.memory_mode
 
-            self.fast_storage_mem_area = MemArea[self.__sys_config("fast_storage_mem_area", "Sram")]
-            self.feature_map_storage_mem_area = MemArea[self.__sys_config("feature_map_storage_mem_area", "Sram")]
+        if self.vela_config is not None and self.vela_config.has_section(mem_mode_section):
+            self.const_mem_area = MemPort[
+                self._read_config(mem_mode_section, "const_mem_area", self.const_mem_area.name)
+            ]
+            self.arena_mem_area = MemPort[
+                self._read_config(mem_mode_section, "arena_mem_area", self.arena_mem_area.name)
+            ]
+            self.cache_mem_area = MemPort[
+                self._read_config(mem_mode_section, "cache_mem_area", self.cache_mem_area.name)
+            ]
+            self.cache_sram_size = int(self._read_config(mem_mode_section, "cache_sram_size", self.cache_sram_size))
 
-            self.permanent_storage_mem_area = MemArea[self.__sys_config("permanent_storage_mem_area", "OffChipFlash")]
-            if is_ethos_u65_system:
-                if self.permanent_storage_mem_area is not MemArea.Dram:
-                    raise Exception(
-                        "Invalid permanent_storage_mem_area = "
-                        + str(self.permanent_storage_mem_area)
-                        + " (must be 'DRAM' for Ethos-U65)."
-                    )
-            else:
-                if self.permanent_storage_mem_area not in set((MemArea.OnChipFlash, MemArea.OffChipFlash)):
-                    raise Exception(
-                        "Invalid permanent_storage_mem_area = "
-                        + str(self.permanent_storage_mem_area)
-                        + " (must be 'OnChipFlash' or 'OffChipFlash' for Ethos-U55)."
-                        " To store the weights and other constant data in SRAM on Ethos-U55 select 'OnChipFlash'"
-                    )
+        elif self.memory_mode == ArchitectureFeatures.DEFAULT_CONFIG:
+            self._set_default_mem_mode()
 
-            self.sram_size = 1024 * int(self.__sys_config("sram_size_kb", "204800"))
+        elif vela_config_files is None:
+            raise CliOptionError("--config", vela_config_files, "CLI Option not specified")
 
-        except Exception:
-            print("Error: Reading System Configuration in vela configuration file, section {}".format(section_key))
-            raise
+        else:
+            raise CliOptionError(
+                "--memory-mode", self.memory_mode, "Section {} not found in Vela config file".format(mem_mode_section),
+            )
 
-    def __sys_config(self, key, default_value):
+        # override sram to onchipflash
+        if self._mem_port_mapping(self.const_mem_area) == MemArea.Sram:
+            if self.const_mem_area == self.arena_mem_area == self.cache_mem_area:
+                print(
+                    "Info: Changing const_mem_area from Sram to OnChipFlash. This will use the same characteristics as"
+                    " Sram."
+                )
+                if self.const_mem_area == MemPort.Axi0:
+                    self.const_mem_area = MemPort.Axi1
+                    self.axi1_port = MemArea.OnChipFlash
+                else:
+                    self.const_mem_area = MemPort.Axi0
+                    self.axi0_port = MemArea.OnChipFlash
+                self.memory_clock_scales[MemArea.OnChipFlash] = self.memory_clock_scales[MemArea.Sram]
+
+        # check configuration
+        if self._mem_port_mapping(self.cache_mem_area) != MemArea.Sram:
+            raise ConfigOptionError("cache_mem_area", self._mem_port_mapping(self.cache_mem_area).name, "Sram")
+
+        if self.is_ethos_u65_system:
+            if self._mem_port_mapping(self.const_mem_area) not in (
+                MemArea.Dram,
+                MemArea.OnChipFlash,
+                MemArea.OffChipFlash,
+            ):
+                raise ConfigOptionError(
+                    "const_mem_area",
+                    self._mem_port_mapping(self.const_mem_area).name,
+                    "Dram or OnChipFlash or OffChipFlash",
+                )
+
+            if self._mem_port_mapping(self.arena_mem_area) not in (MemArea.Sram, MemArea.Dram):
+                raise ConfigOptionError(
+                    "arena_mem_area", self._mem_port_mapping(self.arena_mem_area).name, "Sram or Dram"
+                )
+        else:
+            if self._mem_port_mapping(self.const_mem_area) not in (MemArea.OnChipFlash, MemArea.OffChipFlash):
+                raise ConfigOptionError(
+                    "const_mem_area", self._mem_port_mapping(self.const_mem_area).name, "OnChipFlash or OffChipFlash"
+                )
+
+            if self._mem_port_mapping(self.arena_mem_area) != MemArea.Sram:
+                raise ConfigOptionError("arena_mem_area", self._mem_port_mapping(self.arena_mem_area).name, "Sram")
+
+        # assign existing memory areas
+        self.permanent_storage_mem_area = self._mem_port_mapping(self.const_mem_area)
+        self.feature_map_storage_mem_area = self._mem_port_mapping(self.arena_mem_area)
+        self.fast_storage_mem_area = self._mem_port_mapping(self.cache_mem_area)
+
+        self.sram_size = self.cache_sram_size if self.is_spilling_enabled() else 9999 * 1024 * 1024
+
+        # display the system configuration and memory mode
+        if verbose_config:
+            print(f"System Configuration ({self.system_config}):")
+            print(f"   core_clock = {self.core_clock}")
+            print(f"   axi0_port = {self.axi0_port.name}")
+            print(f"   axi1_port = {self.axi1_port.name}")
+            for mem in (MemArea.Sram, MemArea.Dram, MemArea.OnChipFlash, MemArea.OffChipFlash):
+                print(f"   {mem.name}_clock_scales = {self.memory_clock_scales[mem]}")
+
+            print(f"Memory Mode ({self.memory_mode}):")
+            print(f"   const_mem_area = {self.const_mem_area.name}")
+            print(f"   arena_mem_area = {self.arena_mem_area.name}")
+            print(f"   cache_mem_area = {self.cache_mem_area.name}")
+            print(f"   cache_sram_size = {self.cache_sram_size}")
+
+            print("Architecture Settings:")
+            print(f"   permanent_storage_mem_area = {self.permanent_storage_mem_area.name}")
+            print(f"   feature_map_storage_mem_area = {self.feature_map_storage_mem_area.name}")
+            print(f"   fast_storage_mem_area = {self.fast_storage_mem_area.name}")
+            print(f"   sram_size = {self.sram_size}")
+
+    def _read_config(self, section, key, current_value):
         """
-        Gets the system configuration value with the given key from the vela config file.
+        Reads a given key from a particular section in the Vela config file. If the section contains the 'inherit'
+        option then we recurse into the section specified. If inherited sections result in multiple keys for a
+        particular option then the key from the parent section is used, regardless of the parsing order
         """
-        if self.vela_config is None:
-            return default_value
-        section = "SysConfig." + self.system_config
-        result = self.vela_config[section].get(key, None)
-        if result is None:
-            raise Exception("Error: System Configuration Missing key {} in section [{}] ".format(key, section))
+        if not self.vela_config.has_section(section):
+            raise ConfigOptionError(
+                "section", "{}. The section was not found in the Vela config file(s)".format(section)
+            )
+
+        result = str(current_value)
+        if self.vela_config.has_option(section, "inherit"):
+            inheritance_section = self.vela_config.get(section, "inherit")
+            # check for recursion loop
+            if inheritance_section == section:
+                raise ConfigOptionError(
+                    "inherit",
+                    "{}. This references its own section and recursion is not allowed".format(inheritance_section),
+                )
+            result = self._read_config(inheritance_section, key, result)
+
+        if self.vela_config.has_option(section, key):
+            result = self.vela_config.get(section, key)
+
         return result
diff --git a/ethosu/vela/compiler_driver.py b/ethosu/vela/compiler_driver.py
index 9e1cb3a..0739133 100644
--- a/ethosu/vela/compiler_driver.py
+++ b/ethosu/vela/compiler_driver.py
@@ -225,31 +225,18 @@
     root_sg = nng.get_root_subgraph()
 
     alloc_list = []
-    feature_maps_in_fast_storage = arch.feature_map_storage_mem_area == arch.fast_storage_mem_area
-    if feature_maps_in_fast_storage:
-        mem_alloc_scratch = (arch.feature_map_storage_mem_area, set((MemType.Scratch, MemType.Scratch_fast)))
-        alloc_list.append(mem_alloc_scratch)
-    else:
+    if arch.is_spilling_enabled():
         mem_alloc_scratch_fast = (arch.fast_storage_mem_area, set((MemType.Scratch_fast,)))
         mem_alloc_scratch = (arch.feature_map_storage_mem_area, set((MemType.Scratch,)))
         # Order is important
         alloc_list.append(mem_alloc_scratch_fast)
         alloc_list.append(mem_alloc_scratch)
+    else:
+        mem_alloc_scratch = (arch.feature_map_storage_mem_area, set((MemType.Scratch, MemType.Scratch_fast)))
+        alloc_list.append(mem_alloc_scratch)
 
     for mem_area, mem_type_set in alloc_list:
-        if feature_maps_in_fast_storage or mem_area != arch.fast_storage_mem_area:
-            tensor_allocation.allocate_tensors(
-                nng,
-                root_sg,
-                arch,
-                mem_area,
-                mem_type_set,
-                tensor_allocator=options.tensor_allocator,
-                verbose_allocation=options.verbose_allocation,
-                show_minimum_possible_allocation=options.show_minimum_possible_allocation,
-                allocation_alignment=options.allocation_alignment,
-            )
-        else:
+        if arch.is_spilling_enabled() and mem_area == arch.fast_storage_mem_area:
             # For the case where scratch_fast != scratch: attempt to place feature maps used between
             # cascaded passes in fast storage. Bisection is used to find the max possible usage of SRAM.
             alloc_results = []
@@ -285,6 +272,18 @@
                     "Increasing the value of --weight-estimation-scaling may help to resolve the issue. "
                     "See OPTIONS.md for more information.".format(arch.sram_size)
                 )
+        else:
+            tensor_allocation.allocate_tensors(
+                nng,
+                root_sg,
+                arch,
+                mem_area,
+                mem_type_set,
+                tensor_allocator=options.tensor_allocator,
+                verbose_allocation=options.verbose_allocation,
+                show_minimum_possible_allocation=options.show_minimum_possible_allocation,
+                allocation_alignment=options.allocation_alignment,
+            )
 
     # Generate command streams and serialise Npu-ops into tensors
     for sg in nng.subgraphs:
diff --git a/ethosu/vela/errors.py b/ethosu/vela/errors.py
index 1a30d54..2a635d0 100644
--- a/ethosu/vela/errors.py
+++ b/ethosu/vela/errors.py
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 # Description:
 # Defines custom exceptions.
-import sys
-
 from .operation import Operation
 from .tensor import Tensor
 
@@ -25,31 +23,52 @@
     """Base class for vela exceptions"""
 
     def __init__(self, data):
-        self.data = data
+        self.data = "Error: " + data
 
     def __str__(self):
         return repr(self.data)
 
 
 class InputFileError(VelaError):
-    """Raised when reading the input file results in errors"""
+    """Raised when reading an input file results in errors"""
 
     def __init__(self, file_name, msg):
-        self.data = "Error reading input file {}: {}".format(file_name, msg)
+        self.data = "Reading input file {}: {}".format(file_name, msg)
 
 
 class UnsupportedFeatureError(VelaError):
-    """Raised when the input file uses non-supported features that cannot be handled"""
+    """Raised when the input network uses non-supported features that cannot be handled"""
 
     def __init__(self, data):
-        self.data = "The input file uses a feature that is currently not supported: {}".format(data)
+        self.data = "Input network uses a feature that is currently not supported: {}".format(data)
 
 
-class OptionError(VelaError):
-    """Raised when an incorrect command line option is used"""
+class CliOptionError(VelaError):
+    """Raised for errors encountered with a command line option
+
+    :param option: str object that contains the name of the command line option
+    :param option_value: the command line option that resulted in the error
+    :param msg: str object that contains a description of the specific error encountered
+    """
 
     def __init__(self, option, option_value, msg):
-        self.data = "Incorrect argument to CLI option: {} {}: {}".format(option, option_value, msg)
+        self.data = "Incorrect argument to CLI option: {} = {}: {}".format(option, option_value, msg)
+
+
+class ConfigOptionError(VelaError):
+    """Raised for errors encountered with a configuration option
+
+    :param option: str object that contains the name of the configuration option
+    :param option_value: the configuration option that resulted in the error
+    :param option_valid_values (optional): str object that contains the valid configuration option values
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, option, option_value, option_valid_values=None):
+        self.data = "Invalid configuration of {} = {}".format(option, option_value)
+        if option_valid_values is not None:
+            self.data += " (must be {}).".format(option_valid_values)
+        else:
+            self.data += "."
 
 
 class AllocationError(VelaError):
@@ -60,7 +79,12 @@
 
 
 def OperatorError(op, msg):
-    """Called when parsing an operator results in errors"""
+    """
+    Raises a VelaError exception for errors encountered when parsing an Operation
+
+    :param op: Operation object that resulted in the error
+    :param msg: str object that contains a description of the specific error encountered
+    """
 
     assert isinstance(op, Operation)
 
@@ -91,12 +115,16 @@
 
     data = data[:-1]  # remove last newline
 
-    print("Error: {}".format(data))
-    sys.exit(1)
+    raise VelaError(data)
 
 
 def TensorError(tens, msg):
-    """Called when parsing a tensor results in errors"""
+    """
+    Raises a VelaError exception for errors encountered when parsing a Tensor
+
+    :param tens: Tensor object that resulted in the error
+    :param msg: str object that contains a description of the specific error encountered
+    """
 
     assert isinstance(tens, Tensor)
 
@@ -126,5 +154,4 @@
 
     data = data[:-1]  # remove last newline
 
-    print("Error: {}".format(data))
-    sys.exit(1)
+    raise VelaError(data)
diff --git a/ethosu/vela/high_level_command_to_npu_op.py b/ethosu/vela/high_level_command_to_npu_op.py
index f786444..efd8a03 100644
--- a/ethosu/vela/high_level_command_to_npu_op.py
+++ b/ethosu/vela/high_level_command_to_npu_op.py
@@ -171,20 +171,17 @@
 
 
 def get_region(tens: Tensor, arch: ArchitectureFeatures) -> int:
-    if arch.feature_map_storage_mem_area == arch.fast_storage_mem_area:
-        base_ptr_idx_map = {
-            MemType.Permanent_NPU: BasePointerIndex.WeightTensor,
-            MemType.Permanent_CPU: BasePointerIndex.WeightTensor,
-            MemType.Scratch: BasePointerIndex.ScratchTensor,
-            MemType.Scratch_fast: BasePointerIndex.ScratchTensor,
-        }
+    base_ptr_idx_map = {
+        MemType.Permanent_NPU: BasePointerIndex.WeightTensor,
+        MemType.Permanent_CPU: BasePointerIndex.WeightTensor,
+        MemType.Scratch: BasePointerIndex.ScratchTensor,
+    }
+
+    if arch.is_spilling_enabled():
+        base_ptr_idx_map[MemType.Scratch_fast] = BasePointerIndex.ScratchFastTensor
     else:
-        base_ptr_idx_map = {
-            MemType.Permanent_NPU: BasePointerIndex.WeightTensor,
-            MemType.Permanent_CPU: BasePointerIndex.WeightTensor,
-            MemType.Scratch: BasePointerIndex.ScratchTensor,
-            MemType.Scratch_fast: BasePointerIndex.ScratchFastTensor,
-        }
+        base_ptr_idx_map[MemType.Scratch_fast] = BasePointerIndex.ScratchTensor
+
     return int(base_ptr_idx_map[tens.mem_type])
 
 
diff --git a/ethosu/vela/npu_performance.py b/ethosu/vela/npu_performance.py
index 29e0df9..d1be5a5 100644
--- a/ethosu/vela/npu_performance.py
+++ b/ethosu/vela/npu_performance.py
@@ -60,7 +60,6 @@
 
 class PassCycles(IntEnum):
     Npu = 0
-    Cpu = auto()
     SramAccess = auto()
     DramAccess = auto()
     OnChipFlashAccess = auto()
@@ -69,34 +68,19 @@
     Size = auto()
 
     def display_name(self):
-        return (
-            "NPU",
-            "CPU",
-            "SRAM Access",
-            "DRAM Access",
-            "On-chip Flash Access",
-            "Off-chip Flash Access",
-            "Total",
-            "Size",
-        )[self.value]
+        return ("NPU", "SRAM Access", "DRAM Access", "On-chip Flash Access", "Off-chip Flash Access", "Total", "Size",)[
+            self.value
+        ]
 
     def identifier_name(self):
-        return (
-            "npu",
-            "cpu",
-            "sram_access",
-            "dram_access",
-            "on_chip_flash_access",
-            "off_chip_flash_access",
-            "total",
-            "size",
-        )[self.value]
+        return ("npu", "sram_access", "dram_access", "on_chip_flash_access", "off_chip_flash_access", "total", "size",)[
+            self.value
+        ]
 
     @staticmethod
     def all():
         return (
             PassCycles.Npu,
-            PassCycles.Cpu,
             PassCycles.SramAccess,
             PassCycles.DramAccess,
             PassCycles.OnChipFlashAccess,
@@ -460,9 +444,7 @@
     ofm_block = Block(block_config[1], block_config[0], block_config[3])
     ifm_block = Block(block_config[1], block_config[0], block_config[3])
 
-    if ps.placement == PassPlacement.Cpu:
-        cycles[PassCycles.Cpu] = arch.cpu_cycle_estimate(ps.ops[0])
-    elif primary_op:
+    if ps.placement == PassPlacement.Npu and primary_op:
         skirt = primary_op.attrs.get("skirt", skirt)
         explicit_padding = primary_op.attrs.get("explicit_padding", explicit_padding)
         assert primary_op.type.npu_block_type == ps.npu_block_type
diff --git a/ethosu/vela/register_command_stream_generator.py b/ethosu/vela/register_command_stream_generator.py
index dd63d2e..e612c30 100644
--- a/ethosu/vela/register_command_stream_generator.py
+++ b/ethosu/vela/register_command_stream_generator.py
@@ -1281,14 +1281,15 @@
     """
     emit = CommandStreamEmitter()
     arch = ArchitectureFeatures(
-        vela_config=None,
-        system_config=None,
+        vela_config_files=None,
         accelerator_config=accelerator.value,
+        system_config=ArchitectureFeatures.DEFAULT_CONFIG,
+        memory_mode=ArchitectureFeatures.DEFAULT_CONFIG,
         override_block_config=None,
         block_config_limit=None,
-        global_memory_clock_scale=1.0,
         max_blockdep=ArchitectureFeatures.MAX_BLOCKDEP,
         weight_estimation_scaling=1.0,
+        verbose_config=False,
     )
     generate_command_stream(emit, npu_op_list, arch)
     return emit.to_list()
diff --git a/ethosu/vela/scheduler.py b/ethosu/vela/scheduler.py
index 4af83a1..889bd06 100644
--- a/ethosu/vela/scheduler.py
+++ b/ethosu/vela/scheduler.py
@@ -249,10 +249,6 @@
 
         self.n_combinations_searched = 0
 
-        self.feature_maps_not_in_fast_storage = (
-            arch.tensor_storage_mem_area[TensorPurpose.FeatureMap] != arch.fast_storage_mem_area
-        )
-
         self.pareto_max_candidates = 16
 
         self.ifm_stream_npu_blocks = set(
@@ -694,7 +690,7 @@
         all_candidates = []
         for pred_pass in pred_pass_list:
             # recurse into the next pass
-            ifm_strat_data = self.search_ifm_streaming_body(pred_pass, self.feature_maps_not_in_fast_storage)
+            ifm_strat_data = self.search_ifm_streaming_body(pred_pass, self.arch.is_spilling_enabled())
 
             strat_data = self.search_all_but_one_predecessor(ps, pred_pass, ifm_strat_data)
             for strat_opt in strat_data:
@@ -1020,7 +1016,7 @@
                         output.set_format(TensorFormat.NHCWB16, arch)
                         for rewrite_op in rewrites:
                             rewrite_op.outputs[0].set_format(TensorFormat.NHCWB16, arch)
-            if self.feature_maps_not_in_fast_storage:
+            if arch.is_spilling_enabled():
                 # Remember feature maps that can be moved to fast storage for later use
                 # in use_fast_storage_for_feature_maps
                 self.sg.scheduling_info["feature_map_rewrites"] = fast_storage_tensor_rewrites
diff --git a/ethosu/vela/stats_writer.py b/ethosu/vela/stats_writer.py
index 3cd769f..e4b8156 100644
--- a/ethosu/vela/stats_writer.py
+++ b/ethosu/vela/stats_writer.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
         ]
 
         labels += (
-            ["accelerator_configuration", "system_config", "npu_clock", "sram_size"]
+            ["accelerator_configuration", "system_config", "memory_mode", "core_clock", "sram_size"]
             + [area.identifier_name() + "_bandwidth" for area in mem_areas]
             + ["weights_storage_area", "feature_map_storage_area"]
         )
@@ -83,7 +83,13 @@
 
         if arch:
             data_items += (
-                [arch.accelerator_config, arch.system_config, arch.npu_clock, arch.sram_size / 1024]
+                [
+                    arch.accelerator_config.name,
+                    arch.system_config,
+                    arch.memory_mode,
+                    arch.core_clock,
+                    arch.sram_size / 1024,
+                ]
                 + [arch.memory_bandwidths_per_second[mem_area] / 1000.0 / 1000 / 1000 for mem_area in mem_areas]
                 + [
                     arch.tensor_storage_mem_area[TensorPurpose.Weights].display_name(),
@@ -91,7 +97,7 @@
                 ]
             )
 
-        midpoint_inference_time = nng.cycles[PassCycles.Total] / arch.npu_clock
+        midpoint_inference_time = nng.cycles[PassCycles.Total] / arch.core_clock
         if midpoint_inference_time > 0:
             midpoint_fps = 1 / midpoint_inference_time
         else:
@@ -162,7 +168,6 @@
         all_cycles = (
             PassCycles.Total,
             PassCycles.Npu,
-            PassCycles.Cpu,
             PassCycles.SramAccess,
             PassCycles.DramAccess,
             PassCycles.OnChipFlashAccess,
@@ -239,7 +244,7 @@
 
     orig_mem_areas_labels = [(v, v.display_name()) for v in mem_areas_to_report()]
 
-    midpoint_inference_time = cycles[PassCycles.Total] / arch.npu_clock
+    midpoint_inference_time = cycles[PassCycles.Total] / arch.core_clock
     if midpoint_inference_time > 0:
         midpoint_fps = 1 / midpoint_inference_time
     else:
@@ -252,9 +257,10 @@
     if name:
         print("", file=f)
         print("Network summary for", name, file=f)
-    print("Accelerator configuration        {:20}".format(arch.accelerator_config), file=f)
-    print("System configuration             {:20}".format(arch.system_config), file=f)
-    print("Accelerator clock                        {:12d} MHz".format(int(arch.npu_clock / 1e6)), file=f)
+    print("Accelerator configuration        {:>20}".format(arch.accelerator_config.name), file=f)
+    print("System configuration             {:>20}".format(arch.system_config), file=f)
+    print("Memory mode                      {:>20}".format(arch.memory_mode), file=f)
+    print("Accelerator clock                        {:12d} MHz".format(int(arch.core_clock / 1e6)), file=f)
     for mem_area, label in mem_area_labels:
         print(
             "Design peak {:25}    {:12.2f} GB/s".format(
diff --git a/ethosu/vela/test/testutil.py b/ethosu/vela/test/testutil.py
index 8258827..7cdd4f5 100644
--- a/ethosu/vela/test/testutil.py
+++ b/ethosu/vela/test/testutil.py
@@ -28,14 +28,15 @@
 
 def create_arch():
     return architecture_features.ArchitectureFeatures(
-        vela_config=None,
-        system_config=None,
+        vela_config_files=None,
         accelerator_config=architecture_features.Accelerator.Ethos_U55_128.value,
+        system_config=architecture_features.ArchitectureFeatures.DEFAULT_CONFIG,
+        memory_mode=architecture_features.ArchitectureFeatures.DEFAULT_CONFIG,
         override_block_config=None,
         block_config_limit=None,
-        global_memory_clock_scale=1.0,
         max_blockdep=0,
         weight_estimation_scaling=1.0,
+        verbose_config=False,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/ethosu/vela/vela.py b/ethosu/vela/vela.py
index 6835607..4f632d5 100644
--- a/ethosu/vela/vela.py
+++ b/ethosu/vela/vela.py
@@ -19,8 +19,7 @@
 # Provides command line interface, options parsing, and network loading. Before calling the compiler driver.
 import argparse
 import ast
-import configparser
-import os.path
+import os
 import sys
 import time
 
@@ -196,13 +195,13 @@
     parser.add_argument(
         "--supported-ops-report",
         action="store_true",
-        help="Generate the SUPPORTED_OPS.md file in the current working directory and exits.",
+        help="Generate the SUPPORTED_OPS.md file in the current working directory and exit",
     )
 
+    # set network nargs to be optional to allow the support-ops-report CLI option to be used standalone
     parser.add_argument(
         "network", metavar="NETWORK", type=str, default=None, nargs="?", help="Filename of network to process"
     )
-
     parser.add_argument(
         "--output-dir", type=str, default="output", help="Output directory to write files to (default: %(default)s)"
     )
@@ -212,9 +211,10 @@
         default=None,
         help="Enables the calculation and writing of a network debug database to output directory",
     )
-
-    parser.add_argument("--config", type=str, help="Location of vela configuration file")
-
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--config", type=str, action="append", help="Vela configuration file(s) in Python ConfigParser .ini file format"
+    )
+    parser.add_argument("--verbose-config", action="store_true", help="Verbose system configuration and memory mode")
     parser.add_argument("--verbose-graph", action="store_true", help="Verbose graph rewriter")
     parser.add_argument("--verbose-quantization", action="store_true", help="Verbose quantization")
     parser.add_argument("--verbose-packing", action="store_true", help="Verbose pass packing")
@@ -263,8 +263,14 @@
     parser.add_argument(
         "--system-config",
         type=str,
-        default="internal-default",
-        help="System configuration to use (default: %(default)s)",
+        default=architecture_features.ArchitectureFeatures.DEFAULT_CONFIG,
+        help="System configuration to select from the Vela configuration file (default: %(default)s)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--memory-mode",
+        type=str,
+        default=architecture_features.ArchitectureFeatures.DEFAULT_CONFIG,
+        help="Memory mode to select from the Vela configuration file (default: %(default)s)",
     )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--tensor-allocator",
@@ -292,15 +298,6 @@
         help="Limit block config search space, use zero for unlimited (default: %(default)s)",
     )
     parser.add_argument(
-        "--global-memory-clock-scale",
-        type=float,
-        default=1.0,
-        help=(
-            "Performs an additional scaling of the individual memory clock scales specified by the system config "
-            "(default: %(default)s)"
-        ),
-    )
-    parser.add_argument(
         "--pareto-metric",
         default=ParetoMetric.BwCycMem,
         type=lambda s: ParetoMetric[s],
@@ -344,14 +341,6 @@
     )
     args = parser.parse_args(args=args)
 
-    # Read configuration file
-    config_file = args.config
-    config = None
-    if config_file is not None:
-        with open(config_file) as f:
-            config = configparser.ConfigParser()
-            config.read_file(f)
-
     # Generate the supported ops report and exit
     if args.supported_ops_report:
         generate_supported_ops()
@@ -360,6 +349,12 @@
     if args.network is None:
         parser.error("the following argument is required: NETWORK")
 
+    # check all config files exist because they will be read as a group
+    if args.config is not None:
+        for filename in args.config:
+            if not os.access(filename, os.R_OK):
+                raise InputFileError(filename, "File not found or is not readable.")
+
     sys.setrecursionlimit(args.recursion_limit)
 
     if args.force_block_config:
@@ -374,14 +369,15 @@
         parser.error("the following argument needs to be a power of 2: ALLOCATION_ALIGNMENT")
 
     arch = architecture_features.ArchitectureFeatures(
-        vela_config=config,
+        vela_config_files=args.config,
         system_config=args.system_config,
+        memory_mode=args.memory_mode,
         accelerator_config=args.accelerator_config,
         override_block_config=force_block_config,
         block_config_limit=args.block_config_limit,
-        global_memory_clock_scale=args.global_memory_clock_scale,
         max_blockdep=args.max_block_dependency,
         weight_estimation_scaling=args.weight_estimation_scaling,
+        verbose_config=args.verbose_config,
     )
 
     compiler_options = compiler_driver.CompilerOptions(