Economic growth


LEPs: A year like no other 15/06/2021 Alun Rogers, chair of Stoke and Staffordshire LEP, on the 2020-2021 annual review and his hopes for the future of the LEP.
Over £600m awarded to 26 new Town Deals 08/06/2021 The Government has announced the latest round of towns deals, which will see 26 towns across England share over £600m.
Oxford-Cambridge Arc: environment actions not rhetoric 04/06/2021 Cllr Bridget Smith outlines the five Principles that will turn the Ox-Cam region into a ‘Green Arc.’
Building Back Better: a “sharp and clear focus” is required by all parties 25/05/2021 Bev Hurley outlines the three issues that need tackling in order to Build Back Better.
Report finds cities hit by 'Zoomshock' are best placed for economic recovery 21/05/2021 Cities have been hollowed out by COVID but they are still best placed to drive the recovery, a report by economic growth specialists Metro Dynamics has said.
What should our local authorities look like after COVID-19? 21/05/2021 Martin McFadyen explores how local authorities have rapidly adapted since the COVID-19 crisis and how they can continue the speed of digital transformation.
A further 57 high streets chosen for £830m funding boost 19/05/2021 The Prime Minister has announced 57 high streets in England will share over £830m to help them reopen and recover from the pandemic.
Supporting local authorities to level up economies 19/05/2021 How can the construction industry support the public sector to achieve the government’s ambition of levelling up? Paul Kelly reports.
New index reveals most and least prosperous local authorities 13/05/2021 A new index to track the Government's progress on its 'levelling up' agenda has been launched today by a think tank.
Devolution must focus on economy, says think-tank 06/05/2021 Devolution needs to focus on rebuilding the economy rather than local government reorganisation, a think-tank has claimed.
Johnson announces £23.6m Truro Deal 07/04/2021 Truro has secured £23.6m from the Towns Fund to boost the local economy, create jobs and new homes.
Unlocking the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc 07/04/2021 Alex Robinson argues communities and the environment must be central to the Oxford-Cambridge Arc strategy to get local buy-in.
Levelling up funding is 'poorly targeted' report warns 25/03/2021 There are 6.5 million people living in deprived local authorities that will not be helped by the Government's levelling up funding, new analysis has revealed.
East Midlands councils launch development corporation 24/03/2021 A consortium of local authorities in the East Midlands is taking a major step forwards with proposals to launch a body which could trial a new model for planning and cross-regional economic development.
UCL study calls for ‘21st century approach to prosperity’ 16/03/2021 A new study has criticised the Government’s top down levelling-up agenda and calls for what it calls a ‘21st century approach to prosperity’.
Why economic growth models must underpin effective HE collaboration 09/03/2021 Jonathan Guest explores how economic development professionals can work effectively with Higher Education Institutions to drive growth.
Why data must unite UK Infrastructure Bank and Levelling Up Fund 08/03/2021 Dr Nicola M Headlam explains why a data-led approach is absolutely vital for local government to avoid spending billions on white elephants.
Budget 2021: Leeds wins bank as infrastructure cash goes North 03/03/2021 The new National Infrastructure Bank will be based in Leeds, the chancellor revealed alongside other Budget announcements badged under the Government’s ‘leveling up’ agenda.
Local partners welcome £250m Northern Ireland investment deal 24/02/2021 The UK Government is set to sign a £250m investment agreement with local partners in Northern Ireland to boost the economic potential of the region.
Plan could double economic output of Oxford-Cambridge Arc to £200bn, minister says 18/02/2021 The Government has announced a ‘spatial framework’ plan aimed at transforming the economic and cultural potential of the area stretching between Oxford and Cambridge.
Think tank's launches levelling up Big Bang theory 15/02/2021 The Government should launch a Northern Big Bang to ‘unleash a torrent of investment into the Northern economy’ says a report from a Conservative think-tank.
Key Cities group welcomes four new members 03/02/2021 Four more cities - Bath, Exeter, Lincoln and Wrexham - have joined the Key Cities group.
Pandemic is 'levelling down' the South, report warns 25/01/2021 The economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic will make it four times harder to level up the North and Midlands, a new study has revealed.
A ‘bottom up’ response to Brexit 21/01/2021 Paul Frainer argues Brexit and COVID-19 means we are at a crossroads economically, socially and environmentally.
UK cities and towns hardest hit by COVID-19 likely to recover fastest, report finds 20/01/2021 The cities worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic are likely to make the fastest economic recovery, new analysis has revealed today.
COVID-19 living standards hit ‘ahead, rather than behind us’, think tank warns 18/01/2021 The coming year is set to mark the peak of the pandemic-induced living standards downturn for households, especially those on lower incomes, think tank warns.
Sampling COVID’s impact on Surrey 14/01/2021 Michael Coughlin describes how Surrey CC is developing a ‘rich and granular’ understanding of how its residents, communities and the local economy are being impacted by the pandemic.
What do we want our high streets to look like next Christmas? 05/01/2021 Vidhya Alakeson argues that community businesses provide a tremendous opportunity to create vibrant and resilient high streets and communities.
Driving community wealth and green jobs in Lewes 17/12/2020 Isaac Stanley looks at how Lewes DC is using the potential of community wealth building to increase opportunities for ‘green’ jobs, and to tackle both economic injustice and the threat posed by climate change.
Think tank calls for £164bn stimulus in spending review 23/11/2020 The UK’s economy needs a £164bn cash injection to restart it fully after the COVID-19 crisis, a think tank has said.
Regions losing faith in levelling-up agenda, survey reveals 10/11/2020 Only a fifth of people from the Midlands and the North think the Government is doing enough to level up the economy, according to a new study.
Hollywood firm agrees deal to build Dagenham studio 04/11/2020 Barking and Dagenham Council has signed a deal with a Hollywood developer to build a film and TV production centre in Dagenham.
Supporting our young people in the path to economic recovery 03/11/2020 Clare Hatton explains how the West Midlands Combined Authority has made it a priority to support all young people, but especially those not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Seven areas across England set to receive nearly £180m investment 27/10/2020 Communities in seven areas across England are set to benefit from up to £178.7m in new Town Deals, communities secretary Robert Jenrick has announced.
Blue wall rebels call for economic kickstart 27/10/2020 Northern Tory MPs led by the former Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry have urged their government to kickstart its promised ‘levelling up’ agenda with a Northern Economic Recovery Plan.
Coronavirus leads to scrapping of three-year Spending Review 21/10/2020 Plans to create a three-year settlement for public spending have been abandoned as latest figures show the havoc coronavirus is wreaking on the public finances.
Levelling up agenda would add £242bn to economy each year, research finds 05/10/2020 Successfully delivering on the levelling agenda would boost the economy by £242bn a year, new research has argued today.
Councils key to levelling up agenda, says report 02/10/2020 Local government must have adequate funding to level-up deprived English towns, according to new research.
Tackling inequality key for post-COVID recovery, say experts 30/09/2020 Safeguarding people's living standards, re-evaluating the role of key workers in society, and reducing inequality are ‘crucial’ for the UK’s economic recovery, researchers say.
‘Lack of direction’ putting levelling up agenda at risk, warns report 28/09/2020 A lack of strategy from the Government is the greatest barrier to levelling up the country, a new report has warned today.
New benchmark reveals top five ‘green economies’ in UK 24/09/2020 The top five green economies per capita in 2018/19 were in south east England, Greater Manchester and the Leeds City Region, according to new research.
Modular housing a 'game-changer' for housing and jobs, experts claim 22/09/2020 Modular housing is a ‘game changer’ and could deliver 75,000 homes a year, a report from experts has claimed.
Tackle health and economic inequalities at local level, economists say 21/09/2020 A group of leading economists says that the Government’s ‘leveling up’ agenda should focus more on devolution and health and economic inequalities, and not just on big infrastructure projects.
Launch of £2bn youth employment scheme 02/09/2020 The Government has launched its £2bn scheme to create thousands of jobs for unemployed young people.
MPs call for evidence to support ‘suburban renaissance’ 18/08/2020 The cross-party Suburban Taskforce has today launched a public ‘Call for Evidence’ to help chart a course towards what it describes as a ‘suburban renaissance’ across the country.
Reinvigorating town centres through a root and branch redesign 12/08/2020 Ciara Keeling outlines how successful local authority town centre regeneration and development strategies should look like post COVID-19.
Public back investment for ‘15-minute’ communities 07/08/2020 There is a growing trend to create '15-minute communities' through investment in public health, green infrastructure and town centres, a new survey has revealed.
Major projects must be more responsive to local need, MPs argue 28/07/2020 Hundreds of billions spent on new infrastructure projects could be ‘squandered’ without better co-ordination of local projects, MPs have warned.
Turn high street shops into new homes, urges report 22/07/2020 The Government should stop trying to slow the ‘inevitable’ decline of the high street and instead embrace new ways of saving urban centres, a new paper has argued.
Launch of sustainable development guide for councils 17/07/2020 A new guide to help councils engage with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been launched.
Prospect of local economic recovery 'weak' warn LEPs 15/07/2020 The majority of local leaders warn the prospect of economic recovery is poor over the next six months.
Ministers urged to create a 'green bank' 03/07/2020 Ministers have been urged to create a Green Bank to fund climate change investment as part of the Government’s multi-billion pound infrastructure investment programme announced earlier this week.
Councils pledge to deliver inclusive growth post-Covid-19 24/06/2020 Councils are taking steps to ensure their communities and local economies are more inclusive post-Covid-19, a new report has revealed.
Ten ways for councils to rebuild local economies post-Covid-19 23/06/2020 Alexander Jan sets out ten ideas to help local authorities get started in rebuilding local economies post-Covid-19.
IFS exposes impact of COVID-19 on different areas 15/06/2020 The balance of protecting public health and returning to economic activity varies from one area to the next, research by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) has found.
Council planning powers under threat 08/06/2020 Planning powers could be shifted from local authorities to development corporations as part of an economic stimulus package to be announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson later this month.
How local economies can recover from a global crisis 29/05/2020 Chelsea Dosad outlines what priorities local areas should focus on to help support economic recovery.
New £50m fund to help councils open high streets safely 26/05/2020 Councils will have access to a £50m fund to help prepare for the safe reopening of high streets and other retail spaces.
'Red Wall' areas most at risk of economic scarring, think tank warns 21/05/2020 Red Wall communities areas are most vulnerable to permanent economic scarring as a result of coronavirus, new research has warned today.
Jenrick launches plans to kickstart housing market 13/05/2020 Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has restarted the housing market as part of the Government’s plans to ease lockdown.
Put localism at the heart of recovery, say city leaders 11/05/2020 A centralised ‘command and control approach’ to easing lockdown will not work, city leaders have claimed.
'Too early to tell' if councils need more cash, says Jenrick 07/05/2020 It is ‘too early to tell’ if councils will need more cash to tackle coronavirus, communities secretary Robert Jenrick has said.
A tipping point for town centres? 16/04/2020 Nigel Wilcock warns that many town centre businesses are now probably terminally damaged – and genuine change will be essential.
NIC launches future of rail consultation 26/03/2020 The National Infrastructure Commission has launched a consultation on the future rail landscape of the North and the Midlands as part of the Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda.
North of Tyne mayor announces nearly £20m funding package to ‘boost’ business 03/03/2020 The mayor of North of Tyne has announced a £19.75m funding package to support business growth and innovation.
Councils set out joint vision for £100m transport transformation 18/02/2020 Derby City Council and Nottingham City Council have submitted a bid for over £100m funding to enhance transport links between the two cities.
Freeports ‘will need to justify special status’ 10/02/2020 Government plans to open up to 10 'Freeports' in the UK have been met with scepticism, despite claims that they would ‘unlock a new era of jobs and prosperity’.
West Midlands towns set up board to unlock £3.6bn of funding 31/01/2020 Newcastle-under-Lyme and Kidsgrove are pushing ahead with ambitious plans to unlock millions of pounds of Government investment designed to give towns a boost.
Council chiefs call for devolution of skills funding 16/01/2020 Six million people in England risk being without a job or in work they are over-qualified for by 2030, council chiefs have warned.
Former SSI steelworks secures £71m funding boost 10/01/2020 The Government has confirmed an extra £71m will be spent to get the former SSI steelworks in Redcar ready for redevelopment.
Building a better healthcare cluster 09/01/2020 Outside of the Golden Triangle of Oxford, Cambridge and London, only the North West has been able to develop successful science and technology clusters. Neil Murray reports.
Pilot areas announced as part of effort to ‘rejuvenate’ high streets 02/01/2020 The Government has announced 14 new pilot areas that will receive tailored expert support to assist in rejuvenating their town centres.
Liverpool to host ‘first permanent’ city zip line 20/12/2019 Liverpool could be host to the ‘first permanent’ city zip line in the UK, the city council has announced.
Maximising the benefits of One Public Estate 18/12/2019 Donna Heath says a new approach to construction could help boost the outcomes of the Government’s One Public Estate programme.
County leaders call for an end to ‘city centric policy obsession’ 18/12/2019 Councils have urged the new Government to focus less on cities and to invest more in towns and deprived communities to help level up ‘left-behind’ areas.
Top 100: Our most popular local government stories of 2019 10/12/2019 From calls to a 10% pay rise for council staff to declaring a climate change emergency, here is our countdown of the 100 most popular stories on LocalGov during 2019.
Report highlights nine inspirational towns 29/11/2019 A collection of case studies to show how towns can prevent decline and create new opportunities for change has been published.
Regional inequality in UK is worst than comparable countries, says think tank 27/11/2019 Regional inequalities in the UK are ‘far worse than in any comparable country’, a think tank has warned today.
Viewing economic development differently 26/11/2019 Sustainability: is it time to view economic development through a different lens? Mark Lynam reports.
Landscape to deliver growth 'needs simplified' 26/11/2019 The head of the Institute of Economic Development has hit out at England’s ‘dazzling array of bodies and schemes’ to deliver growth that are ‘confusing even to seasoned commentators’.
Halving regional productivity gap would boost economy by £83bn 26/11/2019 The UK economy could be boosted by £83bn per year if regions with below average productivity could close just half of their shortfall, according to a new report.
Welsh growth deal worth £240m makes ‘progress’ 05/11/2019 The UK and Welsh governments have signed a growth deal with local representatives that could see the creation of 4,000 jobs in the North of Wales.
Whitehall announces £18m for a dozen ‘left behind' areas 04/11/2019 The education secretary Gavin Williamson has today announced that the Opportunity Area programme will receive more funding to help improve educational outcomes and careers advice.
Queen's Speech 19: Devolution White Paper to set out 'structural reform' 14/10/2019 An English devolution White Paper is planned by the Government, it has been confirmed in the Queen’s Speech.
Towns ‘starved’ of investment, think tank says 08/10/2019 A think tank has warned that towns are ‘starved of the investment they badly need’ as most foreign direct investment goes to the major cities.
Trafford Council signs £50m property deal 03/10/2019 Trafford Council and Bruntwood Works have exchanged contracts on a £50m joint venture.
HS2 proposals could bring £1.4bn of benefits, Midlands transport body says 09/09/2019 New plans submitted to the review of the controversial HS2 scheme propose directly connecting the city centres of Birmingham and Nottingham and Leicester and Leeds with high speed trains.
100 places chosen to develop new town deals 06/09/2019 Towns across England have been invited to develop proposals for new multi-million pound Town Deals.
Council leaders calls for green light on HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail 03/09/2019 Council leaders have joined a new campaign to ensure the Government goes ahead with HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).
Tackle racial inequalities to promote growth in the North, think tanks says 16/08/2019 A new policy briefing has called for racial inequalities to be tackled as part of an inclusive economic growth agenda for the North.
Free-trade zones to ‘turbocharge’ investment, Whitehall claims 02/08/2019 The Government has invited ports and airports across the UK to bid to become one of 10 new free trade areas in a move it argues will boost post-Brexit trade.
PM announces £300m for devolved nations 29/07/2019 The prime minister has announced £300m of new funding to support the expansion of Growth Deals across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as he reassures the UK that Brexit will not threaten the union.
How cities can use the circular economy to benefit their citizens 17/07/2019 Joke Dufourmont outlines the three key ways local authorities can attract jobs, investment and social capital in their local circular economy.
Council welcomes £65m Growth Deal 12/07/2019 Moray Council has said that its area’s economy is ‘set to be transformed’ by a £65m Growth Deal, announced yesterday by the UK and Scottish governments.
LEPs ‘lack transparency’ despite receiving £12bn of Government funding 05/07/2019 The Government has ‘no real understanding’ of the impact which the Local Growth Fund has had on local economic growth despite investing £12bn of taxpayers’ money, MPs say.
Northern Powerhouse: The first five years 01/07/2019 The Northern Powerhouse has celebrated its fifth birthday. But what is it, and what has it achieved? Mark Whitehead investigates.
Rebalancing the economy: our time is now 27/06/2019 Nigel Wilcock calls for a different approach to tackle regional imbalances in economic growth.
Post-Brexit free trade zones could ‘rebalance the economy’, think tank claims 25/06/2019 Whitehall should establish free trade zones in most deprived areas after Brexit in order to incentivise growth and rebalance the economy, think tank argues.
Innovation is the new regeneration 24/06/2019 Rachel Dickie explains how a new joint venture will help cities across the country to create new ‘innovation districts’.
Measuring success is more than just boosting GDP 20/06/2019 The past decade in local government has been dominated by pushing forward local economies, with subtle shifts in focus, but tirelessly chasing GDP, says Heather Jameson. But is there a new way?

LEPs: A year like no other

Alun Rogers, chair of Stoke and Staffordshire LEP, on the 2020-2021 annual review and his hopes for the future of the LEP.

Working in partnership to get more people with disabilities and complex needs into employment

Cllr Lorraine Dean explains how a pilot partnership project with housebuilder and contractor, Durkan, has created a blueprint for supporting more people with disabilities and complex needs into employment.

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Public Property

This issue of Public Property examines how how flexible workspaces can lead the way in regeneration for local authorities, Why local authority intervention is key to successful urban regeneration schemes and if the Government’s challenge of embracing beauty is an opportunity for communities.

The March issue also takes a closer look at Blackburn with Darwen Council's first digital health hub to help people gain control over health and care services.