Towns including Rochdale are finding their niche

Date published: 14/03/2006

State of the English Cities - an independent report to ODPM by a group of city experts led by Professor Michael Parkinson - is the most comprehensive study ever undertaken of England's cities and towns, looking at their performance, the challenges they face, and their potential.

The report focuses on 56 major towns and cities in England including Rochdale.  It details how many in the region are developing qualities that underpin successful economies, such as innovation, economic diversity, a skilled labour force, communications, quality of life and leadership capacity

It also charts the improvement in the rate of employment in many North West towns and cities, including those that started with the lowest employment rates at the beginning of the decade such as Wigan.

But the key finding of the report is that England's cities are better placed than at any time since the end of 19th century to become engines of national growth, creating a unique opportunity to close the economic performance gap between England's cities and the very best cities in Europe.

Welcoming the State of the English Cities, the Deputy Prime Minister said:

"Since 1997, we have seen remarkable progress in creating sustainable communities in our towns and cities. This report, unprecedented in its scope, shows our cities are very much back in business as successful places to live and work. Record investment combined with sustained economic growth has created the conditions for our cities to flourish. People are returning to our towns and cities, which have more jobs, rising prosperity, better public services, and a cleaner, safer, greener environment.

"We need to build on this success and widen the urban renaissance. There is still much to do. But the clear message of this report is that our cities are back and ready to capitalise on their recent successes. We must grasp this opportunity to take our cities and regions to the next level and compete with the very best in Europe."

The Government will use the evidence base provided by the State of the English Cities in taking forward its work strengthening the urban renaissance, in the context of work being done in the Comprehensive Spending Review for 2007.

It is already working with a range of cities across the country, including the eight Core Cities, to help them develop business cases to deliver a step change in their economic, social and cultural performance. A second round of City Summits led by ODPM, beyond the biggest cities to include smaller urban areas, will take place from March to May this year, and will help to inform this work going forward.

The Deputy Prime Minister today also announced that the third Sustainable
Communities Summit will be held in Manchester, during the week commencing 5 February 2007, and will focus on the role of cities in the global economy.

Minister for Local Government and Communities David Miliband added:

"This landmark report shows our cities have made a successful recovery after years of decline. Cities have become engines of growth once again. You only have to look at Manchester to see the scale of change. In 1995, there were 300 people living in the city centre, now it is home to over 16,000 people. We now have the best opportunities since the end of the 19th century to join Europe's top performing cities. Now is the time to seize that chance and make it happen.

"We will need a step change in our approach to cities, one that empowers both local government and local citizens if we are to catch up with very best in Europe, and give business the confidence it needs to invest in our cities."

State of the English Cities fulfils Government's commitment made in its Urban White Paper of 2000, "Our Towns and Cities: the Future," to commission a report on the progress and performance of English cities. The report highlights the need to address key drivers of economic success - transport, skills and land use - and to do so at the level of the 'city region', the economic area beyond municipal boundaries.

Professor Michael Parkinson, lead author of the State of the English Cities, said:

"This report shows cities really do matter to our regional and national economic success. They are assets not liabilities. London as a global city makes a huge contribution. But many in the north and west have dramatically improved their performance. Although all cities have been picking up we must do more if they are to catch up with the best in England and Europe.

"National economic success and substantial public expenditure have been major factors in cities' continued recovery.  They are necessary to guarantee English cities stay up. National policies have made a big contribution to the recovery of our cities and we should build on them. We should also learn from the best cities in Europe.

"Local leaders have been crucial to the recovery of many cities. We should provide more powers and resources to our cities so they keep the good work going. The prize is great and we should seize it."