The Government's devolution agenda must put a greater focus on the economic and transport challenges faced by some of Britain's fastest-growing but smaller cities, a new report warns.
In association with the Fast Growth Cities group - which represents Cambridge, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Swindon and Norwich - the report by think tank Centre for Cities, suggests these cities face challenges that ‘threaten to undermine their continuing economic success’.
Cambridge - a city on the rise
Fast Growth Cities: the opportunities and challenges ahead, says these five cities are playing an increasingly important role in the national economy, with high productivity levels and levels of employment and business start-ups. However it identifies housing, worsening transport congestion, and skills gaps as significant challenges for them.
Alexandra Jones, Centre for Cities chief executive, said: ‘For these cities to continue to grow, it’s vital that they receive the kind of tailored policy support the Government is putting in place for cities like Greater Manchester and Sheffield.
'It’s also important that any devolution deals involving the ‘Fast Growth’ cities respond to the specific obstacles and opportunities they face. If they are included in wider regional deals, those agreements should retain a strong urban focus, to make the most of the economic characteristics and strengths of these cities. This should be a key consideration for the Government as it extends its devolution agenda in the coming years.’
On transport, the report argues that the cities have significant traffic congestion problems because they all attract large numbers of workers from surrounding areas.
It warns that Government funding for transport infrastructure is too short-term to enable the cities to address this issue, and calls for longer-term funding commitments of the type available to Manchester and Sheffield.
