Examining the Evidence on Place‑Based Research Partnerships: Towards a Set of Principles for Successful Partnerships
This evidence review brings together academic and practice‑based literature to understand what makes place‑based research partnerships work effectively. It identifies the outcomes these partnerships can deliver, the infrastructure and systems that support success, the skills and expertise required, and the behaviours and values that underpin strong collaboration. The review also highlights major gaps in existing […]
Regional Pathways to Net Zero: Energy and Emissions Intensities in the UK From 2015-2023
This report examines how UK regions’ GVA is becoming decoupled from energy inputs and emissions. Using data related to economic activity (GVA), energy inputs and emissions generated between 2015 and 2023. Nationally, GVA increased by 13 per cent over this period, with regional growth ranging between 7 and 16 per cent. At the same time, […]
The Future of Local Democracy – Devolution and the Need to Empower Town and Parish Councils
Dr Amy Burnett (LPIP Place Fellow), Dr Jason Leman (Citizen Network) and Dr Daniel Ozarow (Middlesex University) examine how town and parish councils could play a central role in making devolution work for communities. This discussion paper was developed following the National Association of Local Councils’ Power Shift Conference and responds to the English Devolution […]
Civic 2:0
Civic 2:0 is a programme to engage national and regional policymakers in the economic and social role higher education institutions play in their towns, cities and regions.
Community Empowerment and Living Heritage in 2026: Community-Owned Culture and Heritage in Local Growth Plans
This briefing paper was written at the advent of the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill coming into action in the UK. The paper provides an initial provocation as to whether 2026 could provide the strongest mandate yet for valuing community culture and […]
Business Cases and Place-Based Funding
This report critically examines the application of the Better Business Case Green Book model by practitioners when seeking to secure past place-based economic development funding. The business case framework is used to appraise and manage the development of an intervention, as set out in the HM Treasury’s Green Book guidance. The report systematically reviews and […]
Valuing What Matters: Reclaiming Social Value for System Change
This policy brief argues that social value must be reclaimed as a driver of system change rather than reduced to compliance exercises. It outlines a stewardship approach across three dimensions – procurement, governance, and community voice – demonstrating how public spending can serve as anchor investment, align decision-making around a shared purpose, and empower citizens […]
Collaborative Innovation in Employment Policy: A Liverpool City Region Case Study
This policy briefing explores how the Liverpool City Region has sustained employment policy innovation across decades of national change. Drawing on programmes such as the City Strategy Pathfinder, Youth Employment Gateway, and Households into Work, it shows how trust-based relationships, boundary-spanning roles, and collaborative governance have acted as an ‘invisible thread’ maintaining local capacity for […]
A Long-Term Strategy for Housing: Lessons Learned on the Role of Institutions and Governance
The UK Government has announced a £39 billion funding package and five-stage plan for social and affordable housing in England, with a comprehensive 10-year strategy due in 2025. This report reflects on the housing contexts of Scotland and England, drawing comparative lessons to strengthen institutional design, governance, and long-term planning for England’s housing policy. It […]
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 […]