Economic growth is an inherent part of what makes our places thrive and succeed. It is the thread that weaves through the fabric of our communities, stitching together a future where prosperity is not just a buzzword, but a lived reality, delivering better lives for our residents.

The nationally-led approach to stimulating growth has under-delivered for decades. In the 30 years following the Second World War, our average annual growth rate was around 3.6%, dropping to roughly 2.1% in the following three decades. However, since the start of the financial crisis in 2007, this has fallen to an average of just 0.2% per annum.