Regional Development
Reporting and commentary on the government’s levelling up agenda.
Inside the UK’s enduring love for chocolate
Time for Labour to turn the tide on children’s health
How can we deliver better rail journeys for customers?
How to save local government without breaking the bank
Local pension pots, business rates, council tax and fiscal devolution – four smart fixes to get councils out of…
ByWe need to decentralise the NHS
The survival of the health service depends on its ability to empower local areas.
ByWhat role would mayors play under a Labour government?
The opposition has promised a wave of devolution in England.
ByThe Research Brief: UK housing cannot cope with hotter summers
Your weekly dose of policy thinking.
ByThe Research Brief: attempts to tackle north-south inequality have failed
Your weekly dose of policy thinking.
By“Austerity has returned”: The expert verdict on Jeremy Hunt’s Budget
Reactions to the Chancellor’s plans for the economy.
ByAn insider’s view of Nottingham City Council
A member of the effectively bankrupt local authority on life after a Section 114 notice.
ByNew devolution deals announced at annual “Gove-fest”
The Levelling Up Secretary stole the show by ceding to a key Labour demand.
ByWhat can history teach us about policymaking?
In an era of “post-policy politics”, politicians should look to the past for inspiration – and warnings.
ByWaste collection and library services are at risk of severe cutbacks
Ahead of the Budget next week, local authorities have warned Chancellor Jeremy Hunt of extreme cost pressures.
ByDid Blackpool South’s gamble on the Tories’ Scott Benton pay off?
Voters in Scott Benton's constituency reflect on the "levelling up" agenda.
ByFive solutions to the council finance crisis
Other than a cash injection, how can local leaders save authorities from a wave of bankruptcies?
ByPride of place is an economic issue
Civic identity, core to the government’s Levelling-up and Regeneration Act, relies on investment in public infrastructure.
ByEnglish councils are facing an “out-of-control” financial crisis
A new report calls on the government to close the £4bn funding gap, or face a fresh wave of…
ByThe Research Brief: Why centralised funding is a waste of public money
Your weekly dose of policy thinking.
ByFinancial pressures are taking a toll on council staff
New polling reveals poor training, accountability and overwork in local authorities.
ByThe Research Brief: How the average Briton became £10,200 worse off
Your weekly dose of policy thinking.
ByCouncil bankruptcy tracker: authorities under increasing financial strain
Six local authorities have declared bankruptcy since 2021. Spotlight looks at the financial situation at English councils.
ByHow the local government finance settlement would leave poorer authorities worse off
Conservative MPs are demanding emergency funding in response to devolved finance proposals that penalise poorer councils.
ByWe need long-term investment in critical national infrastructure
From the UK’s energy grid to its waterways and transport systems, the government must make concrete plans for steady…
ByLabour will not bring HS2 to Manchester – what does Andy Burnham think?
The Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham challenges Keir Starmer to commit to “true” Northern Powerhouse Rail.
ByWhy Michael Gove’s planning reforms won’t deliver sustainable housing
The Housing Secretary’s new planning framework for England does little to encourage net zero development.
ByGove dodges questions on Teesworks controversy and defends freeports
The Levelling Up Secretary refused to confirm a date for reporting on potential wrongdoing in Tees Valley.
ByWhat does it mean when a council declares bankruptcy?
Local governments across England are worried about their finances, and we should be too.
BySelling off assets won’t stop council bankruptcies
The government hopes someone else will deal with the problem of inadequate local authority funding.
ByWhat are the key questions Labour needs to answer in 2024?
As we head into an election year, Keir Starmer still has to win over the electorate on a plethora…
ByGrenfell shocked us all, but the UK still doesn’t take fire safety seriously
The poor and disadvantaged are forced to live in unsafe or overcrowded housing – regulation needs to catch up.
ByLabour’s publicly controlled buses policy is vital – but it’s only the first step
Transport for London-style franchising will improve local services. But councils need to open decision-making to the public.
ByExclusive: More than a third of councillors say recreational, leisure and cultural services have been cut since 2010
Amid bankruptcies and lack of funding, Spotlight polling reveals that libraries, leisure centres and parks are all being sidelined.
ByIf given the chance to succeed, levelling up could transform the UK
Whoever wins the next election must commit to infrastructure and regeneration projects that tackle stark regional inequalities.
ByHow Wales could save the world
Sophie Howe, the nation’s first-ever commissioner for future generations, on what it takes to prioritise well-being over GDP.
ByCouncils are on the brink – but there’s no mea culpa from Michael Gove
With one in five local authorities saying they are likely to go bankrupt, the Levelling Up Secretary is shifting…
ByExclusive: Half of councillors say social housing has not been upgraded since 2010
As residents face extortionate energy bills this winter, many council homes in need of retrofitting remain unfit for purpose.
ByThe manufacturing sector is a vital part of the green transition
Driving economic growth, levelling up the country and reaching net zero are all interdependent.
ByExclusive: High streets “worse since 2010”, say most Tory councillors
The Conservative government claims the economy has “turned a corner” – but its own grassroots say otherwise.
ByApprenticeships are key for closing small business skills gaps
The economy needs more workers with digital skills.
ByOver 1,000 levelling-up projects “unlikely” to be completed by original deadline
Only 64 projects supported with levelling-up funds have been built.
ByManchester and West Midlands devolution deals are just the beginning
Officials whisper about the abolition of combined authorities. But they are already having success through partnership and experimentation.
ByThe Parliament Brief: Investment zones need more incentives, MPs told
Academics and industry leaders say that the benefits of zones and freeports for businesses are too limited.
ByThe Research Brief: why raising taxes might be central to tackling regional inequalities
Your weekly dose of policy thinking.
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