Making the most of our economic potential

The Government’s central economic objective is to build a strong economy and a fair society, where there is opportunity and security for all. A key part of this is to improve the economic performance of every part of the UK. As the Government has said: “the unfulfilled economic potential in every nation, region, city and locality must be released to increase the long-term growth rate of the UK”.

Where does CSS stand?

CSS agrees with this but, together with the Chief Economic Development Officers Society [CEDOS], is increasingly concerned at the implications of the narrow focus on the ‘core’ cities and city regions as the currently favoured approach to improving regional economic performance in this country. We support the promotion of economic growth in our major cities but we are concerned about the limitations of the push for city regions on national and regional economic growth and the potentially adverse impact especially on peripheral areas that lie outside, within and between city regions.

CSS has joined forces with CEDOS to make an independent assessment of sub-national economic development in this country including city regions, polycentric regions and county regions. An interim report ‘Making the most of our economic potential’ has already been published. This shows that whilst a city-region approach may be appropriate in some areas, it is not the way forward for many parts of the country. Indeed, there is evidence that county regions, operating as large economies with a clear geographical focus and sense of identity, can be at least as significant as cities in driving economic growth.

CSS and CEDOS believe that, especially in the post-industrial society, an over emphasis on city regions is one dimensional and over-simplistic. To be successful, the Government must recognize that all areas - cities, towns, counties and rural areas - have important roles to play; and take a balanced approach to sub-national economic policy and investment.