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’.
Executive director of the Institute of Economic Development (IED) Nigel Wilcox said the message to a future government is ‘clear – the situation is a mess and small wonder economic development has failed to deliver in so many places’.
Writing in The MJ, he said the landscape for delivery of growth ‘needs to be simplified’ – and combined authorities ‘seem to provide the best solution currently on offer’.
He said the current mechanisms of funding to encourage growth - including City Deals, Growth Deals, Devolution Deals, the Stronger Town Fund offering Town Deals, competitions for Future High Street Fund, Strength in Places Fund, Coastal Communities Fund ‘and more’ - all involve ‘tremendous amounts of resources being invested to create bids to demonstrate need and future strategy’.
