Local Growth Plans: challenges and opportunities
As Local Growth Plans are developed by combined authorities across England, Tom Arnold highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with developing these strategies.
Posted on: 9 May 2025
Driving growth and overcoming barriers in Liverpool City Region
The UK’s new Industrial Strategy is emerging at a critical moment. As the government moves from consultation to delivery, it faces mounting pressure to identify and implement solutions to unlock economic growth and accelerate the net zero transition.
Posted on: 6 May 2025
The reality of the Northern Arc
The ‘Northern Arc’ is a uniquely important area of national economic potential and performance. It has many of the positive economic and labour market characteristics of the ‘golden triangle’ (Oxford, Cambridge, London) – but without the almost insoluble problem of housing unaffordability. This part of the North is more than capable of ‘winning’ - but risks being overlooked.
Posted on: 2 May 2025
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The defence dividend and the Northern Arc
The Prime Minister’s decision to increase UK defence spending will have significant economic consequences and is widely seen as a growth opportunity for defence contractors. Ian Wray asks what might be done to deploy the ‘defence dividend’ funding more effectively and how greater benefits could be secured for North West England especially as part of a ‘Northern Arc’.
Posted on: 25 March 2025
Shaping a city-region that works for women
The Feminist City Network based at the University of Liverpool contributed to and chaired a panel on accelerating gender equality in Liverpool City Region at LCR Women Together’s International Women’s Day celebrations.
Posted on: 11 March 2025
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Harnessing regional innovation for a dynamic UK Industrial Strategy
The first in a series of blog posts from Heseltine Institute Policy Analyst Roger Baxter on the UK Government's recent Industrial Strategy Green Paper.
Posted on: 27 February 2025
The case for the Northern Arc
Focusing economic policy on the England’s Oxford Cambridge Corridor is not enough. An equivalent concept is needed for the ‘South of the North’. It would be a more realistic proposition with the prospect of early wins.
Posted on: 4 February 2025
The English Devolution White Paper: Our panel of experts responds
Published in December 2024, the long-awaited English Devolution White Paper outlines some of the biggest changes to local government and its relationship with Westminster in half a century.
Posted on: 15 January 2025
Britain must rebuild its institutional muscle
To develop and deliver the necessary projects to meet its growth ambition government will need to strengthen its own executive capacity and 'institutional muscle', alongside devolution to local government. The Ministerial Task Force concept pioneered by Lord Heseltine in Liverpool might provide a model, as would the late Lord Prescott's regional development agencies.
Posted on: 10 January 2025