The Seven Essentials of Effective Place-Based Growth: What Can the Government Learn From City-Region Mayors and Devolved Nations?

As the UK faces persistent regional inequalities, economic uncertainty, and the urgent need for a just transition to net zero, the case for a more empowered, locally driven approach to growth has never been stronger. This briefing sets out seven essential principles for effective place-based growth, drawing on the lived experience and emerging evidence from city-region mayors, devolved nations, the UKRI-funded Local Policy Innovation Partnership Hub and the four funded partnerships: Rural Wales, EPIC Northern Ireland, Forth2O (Scotland) and YPIP (Yorkshire).

It aims to inform Labour’s evolving policy agenda on devolution and local economic renewal, offering actionable insights for national government based on what is already working in places.

This work is grounded in the research and practice of the City-Region Economic Development Institute (City-REDI) at the University of Birmingham, which is the lead for the LPIP Hub (Strategic Coordination Hub), the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place at the University of Liverpool, and the four LPIP pilot partnerships. These partnerships bring together local authorities, universities, business and civic actors to co-produce evidence-informed strategies for inclusive, sustainable growth. Their work highlights the importance of local capacity, collaborative governance, and long-term investment in unlocking the potential of place.

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Publications

Communities in Their Places Evidence Review

The LPIP Hub “Communities in their Places” evidence review shows that while communities are central to addressing local economic, social and environmental challenges, their ability to do so varies widely depending on policy frameworks, resources and local capacity. It highlights that “community” is a complex, overlapping concept, but strong social

Towards A Place-Based Qualitative Data Observatory

This research briefing responds to Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Hub work on data devolution, transparency, and place productivity. Building on this existing research, it argues that current UK data infrastructures do not yet accommodate the heterogeneous forms of qualitative data on which local, regional and national policymakers increasingly rely.

Outside-In: The Role of Social Entrepreneurs in Public Sector Transformation

This policy paper explores the role of social entrepreneurs as “outside-in” actors in public sector transformation. It argues that, in a period of profound institutional transition, public systems need to learn not only from within formal structures but also from actors operating at their boundaries. The briefing examines how social

Building Intergovernmental Capability Through Secondments: Lessons From Japan for the UK

This policy briefing explores how England’s devolution reforms could work more effectively by using staff secondments as a core part of the delivery system. Drawing on lessons from Japan’s structured, legally grounded approach, it shows how predictable and reciprocal staff movement can strengthen local capability, improve coordination across government tiers,