Norwich ‘needs unitary status’

06 December 2006

Norwich needs to be given unitary status in order to realise its potential as a successful city in the knowledge economy, a new report by The Work Foundation concludes.
The report, Enabling Norwich and the knowledge economy, urges the Government to ‘recognise that as an under-bound district authority, the city lacks sufficient decision-making powers to drive future growth’.
Unitary status would enable Norwich to develop the infrastructure and vision needed to emerge as a city of international repute, the report says. ‘Norwich needs to engage around a shared vision with partners within and outside the city,’ it says.
Norwich is also being held back by poor infrastructure, with a ‘lack of a dual carriageway and lack of control over bus planning’. More than 50,000 people commute into Norwich from the rest of Norfolk, proportionally the highest in-bound commuter rate outside London, yet it is the largest city in Europe without a dual carriageway. As such, the report calls on partners within Norfolk and the east of England to ‘continue to lobby the Government for investment in the rail and road connectivity’.
Will Hutton, chief executive of The Work Foundation, said the case for unitary status for Norwich was ‘overwhelming’. And Norwich City Council chief executive, Laura McGillivray, added: ‘The report is both encouraging and challenging and we hope the Government will note its conclusions about the need for unitary status.’
A separate report by Norwich city councillors branded the local bus service by First ‘inadequate and expensive’, and called for the company to forge closer links with the council and surrounding local authorities to improve the service. The company has since announced a £750,000 investment in five new double-decker buses, due to go into service early next year in the city.
View the report by clicking on the following link: Norwich in the knowledge economy.

Register now for full access

Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.

Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors. Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.

Already a registered? Login

Sign In

Norwich ‘needs unitary status’

order biaxin tablets

buying biaxin

ordering clarithromycin

Register now for full access

Login