Posted on September 26, 2011 by sarahtownsend

It is fair to say that most comment on sub-national growth and development during 2011 (including in this blog) has focused on cities – most particularly London and the eight Core Cities. However, the Government Growth Review Phase Two, announced in June 2011, included the rural economy as one of six topics to be addressed. What should rural businesses and local leadership teams be feeding into the review in advance of expected rural economy announcements in the Autumn statement?
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Filed under: Growth Review, LEPs, local economic development, rural economic development | Tagged: Cornwall, Cumbria, economic restructuring, growth review, LEPs, Lincolnshire, rural development, Welland Partnership | 1 Comment »
Posted on September 13, 2011 by sarahtownsend
When I was Chief Executive of EEDA, I was never sure whether my change of mood as summer moved into autumn was an onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or the expectation of attendance at Party conferences.
Whilst these events may be something of an unwelcome distraction for some delegates, they are good economic news for the cities which host them. For instance, the LibDems at Birmingham next week (17th September) are estimated to bring 8000 delegates, 1600 media and £10-£12m of visitor spend to the city. The Labour Party conference has been reputed to bring double the number of delegates and about £18m of spend; whilst the Conservatives may raise that figure to £20m.
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Filed under: Cities, Party Conferences | Tagged: Birmingham, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Brighton, Liverpool, Manchester, Minister for Cities, Party Conferences | 1 Comment »
Posted on August 25, 2011 by sarahtownsend

- Centenary Square, REP and ICC – great Birmingham statements from the early 1990s
In recent weeks I have thought a lot about irresponsible individuals who have acted unlawfully to deprive communities of thousands of the homes they need, destroyed new educational facilities, and then, unrepentant, show their disdain when court decisions go against them.
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Filed under: Birmingham, Cities | Tagged: Birmingham, city strategy, economic restructuring, index of multiple deprivation | 1 Comment »
Posted on August 9, 2011 by sarahtownsend
As a lifelong Spurs fan, I feel immensely sad about the terrible news from Tottenham over the last week. It is depressing that perhaps less has changed since the Broadwater Farm events in 1985 than we had previously believed. I must admit I have been in a minority of fans, supporting the Club’s bid to take over the Olympic Stadium. I saw a move to Stratford as a cost-effective, rapid, and deliverable solution to Spurs getting a venue with the capacity and facilities to provide the income that can underpin long-term football success. However, the events of this week have changed my mind.
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Filed under: Cities, Regeneration, Tottenham | Tagged: area regeneration, Enterprise Zones, index of multiple deprivation, Tottenham | 4 Comments »
Posted on August 2, 2011 by sarahtownsend

- ‘Collective dreams’ from Curitiba
As Greg Clark gets to grip with his new role as Minister for Cities, he will undoubtedly be seeking to identify priorities and define the focus of his brief. The government announcement itself was vague and aspirational. It positions the Minister as ‘champion’, ‘first point of contact’, in order to deliver a lot of ‘driving’ and ‘thriving’. As a Minister shared between DCLG and CBIS, a look at the two departmental business plans gives the Minister no substantial guidance as to government priorities and ‘key deliverables’. The only reference to cities in the two plans refers to DCLG’s imposition of directly elected mayors (or at least referenda) on the 12 largest cities outside London. If government, therefore, has difficulties in articulating precisely what its key goals are for UK cities, to where should the Minister look for advice and support?
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Filed under: Cities, Uncategorized | Tagged: Minister for Cities | 2 Comments »
Posted on July 25, 2011 by sarahtownsend
Views on Tax Increment Financing (TIF) have ranged from clamours for early action, to caution based on US experience, together with an English admiration (or is that jealousy) of the progress being made in Scotland. Now that the Local Government Resource Review (LGRR) Business Rates Retention Consultation, has been published, how does the development landscape for TIFs look?
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Filed under: Business rates, local economic development, TIF | Tagged: Business Rates Retention, Local Government Resource Review, TIF | Leave a comment »
Posted on July 18, 2011 by sarahtownsend
The marvellous scenes from the British Open Golf Championship this weekend, and Darren Clarke’s immensely popular victory, has projected Sandwich in Kent positively to a global audience. This should assist the Sandwich Economic Development Task Force (SEDTF) – set up in the wake of Pfizers decision to close its pharmaceuticals R&D facility with the loss of 2400 jobs – to promote the location for inward investment.
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Filed under: local economic development | Tagged: economic restructuring, Enterprise Zones, Pfizer, RGF | Leave a comment »
Posted on July 11, 2011 by sarahtownsend
As the deadline for Enterprise Zone (EZ) submissions passed, government is now faced with four designated EZs at Manchester Airport, Liverpool Waters, Boots Campus Nottingham, and Royal Docks London and seven further LEPs who are guaranteed a ‘Vanguard EZ’…
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Filed under: Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Posted on July 4, 2011 by sarahtownsend
It is a pleasure to be invited to contribute an economic development blog to Planning and Regeneration and Renewal…
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Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: enterprise zones; knowledge economy, high streets; growth | 3 Comments »