Centre for Cities
Vibrant high streets need vibrant cities and towns
The fundamental cause of high street decline is simple: a lack of local spending power, says Andrew Carter. 'People are typically paid more in Cambridge so they have more money to spend, both online and offline, than people in Burnley do'.
EXCLUSIVE: How are districts surviving the pandemic?
A recent report has revealed the relative impact of the pandemic on districts’ economic vulnerability and their ability to recover. Dan Peters talks to councils named in the research about the findings.
Don't defund, side-line or worse still abolish metro-mayors
While it may not realise it now, the Government needs powerful and prominent metro mayors if it is to have any hope of delivering its levelling up agenda, says Andrew Carter.
Cities have 'gone backwards towards a centralising tendency'
Cities have ‘gone backwards’ towards a centralising tendency in response to COVID-19 and in relation to the proposals in the Planning White Paper, says Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham.
Where next for high streets and city centres?
The Towns Fund selection process was controversial, but high streets and city centres face a bigger existential crisis. Ann McGauran reports.
Five ways to be ahead of the curve
Ruth Morgan and Sean Anstee put forward five recommendations to consider when putting together proposals for local government reform. ‘Let’s grab the opportunity to secure lasting change for our communities’, they add.
No sign of workers returning to city centres
The latest data from Centre for Cities' High Streets Recovery Tracker shows no movement at all in workers returning to city centres since late June, and we should not assume this will increase over the autumn, says Andrew Carter.
Helping city centres thrive post-COVID
Concern for our high streets has been exacerbated by the pandemic - but this time it is big cities that are suffering more, says Andrew Carter. If we care about city centres, its down to transport authorities can help
We must provide Luton with a bright future
Luton BC has agreed a ‘drastic’ emergency budget of £22m savings, and will ‘continue to bang loudly on the Government’s door’ for the finances it needs, says leader Hazel Simmons.
Let’s not paper over the cracks
Nathan Elvery examines the impact of spending cuts on councils and communities over a decade and highlights that they are dealing with COVID-19 while balanced on a precarious cliff edge.
Struggling places will fall even further behind without targeted policies
Every single city and town in the UK will need a localised plan that reflects their circumstances to help them rebuild their economies, says Andrew Carter.
Without a place-focused economic response, pre-coronavirus inequalities will become even more entrenched
In places that were often struggling prior to COVID-19 such as Barnsley or Stoke just 20% of people could work from home, writes Andrew Carter; the virus will have a bigger and longer-term impact in areas where the economy has now ground to a halt.
Failure to act on tackling air pollution would be deadly
With more than one in 19 deaths in UK cities and large towns caused by toxic air, the UK Government needs to take action urgently, says Andrew Carter. There are also steps that city leaders can take to improve the air of their constituents, he adds.
Harnessing the climate change agenda for our future places
Climate change is a challenge, but the trick will be to harness the agenda to redesign our towns and cities for the future, says Heather Jameson.
Tackle high street decline the right way
Research by Centre for Cities highlights the problem with improving high streets' cultural amenities without dealing with the economic fundamentals, according to Andrew Carter.
Brexit should not be an excuse for avoiding domestic issues
The next PM should increase council funding, build homes where they are needed and improve urban transport, according to Andrew Carter.
We need a deal with EU that minimises all export barriers
The Centre for Cities' latest report highlights that an industry-by-industry approach to trade is unlikely to work for cities, says Andrew Carter.
We are making the case to Honda to keep investment in Swindon
Council leader David Renard is part of a taskforce set up after Honda's announcement that it plans to shut the local plant. He says the key priority must be to make the case that investment in vehicles of the future is best done in Swindon.
Give cities the discretion to manage their finances
Andrew Carter says the spending cuts borne by cities for a decade need to end - but they need more control over how they raise and spend money locally if they are to build a sustainable long-term financial future.
Cities have borne brunt of austerity - report
Cities have borne the brunt of austerity, a report out today has warned.
