There have been, in broad terms, three types of central government regeneration programme: Shiny Boosterism, Hugging Communities and The Big Party. They all failed.
I do wonder how things would play out if a UK city had its own planning powers, and faced the fiscal consequences of that too, and which decided just for fun to have the biggest public square in Europe - 71.5 Ha is the current record afaik. It would make an incredible events venue. Sadly it is illegal for elected Councillors to make such a determination.
Birmingham is a great city but I know very little about the history of regeneration there. On a serious note Birmingham seems largely ignored by writers about contemporary urban England.
Its true it is, much to the frustation of those of us who live there and the wider West Mids.
I've left now, but we are sick of people banging on about "the North" (not you! I mean Burnham etc!) completely overlooking the issues that affect the 3.5 million people in our conurbation
Don't disagree with much of this. Except that the economy of Manchester has grown consistently faster than the rest of the country. Regeneration done at a way bigger scale, for over 30 years, it's actually brought in real new investment and business and it's much more than just lipstick on a big boosterism.
I visit Manchester all the time, having lived there for 7, and it's obviously much richer and more prosperous than 15 years ago and light years ahead compared to 30 years ago. Not even remotely comparable. And not just in the centre. Your criticism of Manchester feels more like political points scoring than objective criticism, I'm afraid.
The "local multiplier" seems to operate on the same logic as Donald Trump's tariffs.
It is exactly the same. Fundamentally local protectionism.
Upvoting for the mention of Cobden.
I do wonder how things would play out if a UK city had its own planning powers, and faced the fiscal consequences of that too, and which decided just for fun to have the biggest public square in Europe - 71.5 Ha is the current record afaik. It would make an incredible events venue. Sadly it is illegal for elected Councillors to make such a determination.
Excellent essay. But here’s the thing
“but so they can reduce the negatives that those taxes, rules and regulations impose on business, investors and trade.”
Might be best for those negatives to be mitigated by the centre…. If they can be mitigated locally then surely the need for them can be eliminated??
Economic growth is the only way we generate the resources to pay for defence healthcare welfare etc
So why do we persist in destroying growth by needless taxes, rules and regulations?
The political part that can answer this properly will get my vote and should get many others
Very good! You don't mention Birmingham!!!!! I wonder why!
Birmingham is a great city but I know very little about the history of regeneration there. On a serious note Birmingham seems largely ignored by writers about contemporary urban England.
Its true it is, much to the frustation of those of us who live there and the wider West Mids.
I've left now, but we are sick of people banging on about "the North" (not you! I mean Burnham etc!) completely overlooking the issues that affect the 3.5 million people in our conurbation
In my defence I did mention Coventry and Wolverhampton! Had never been to Birmingham before my son moved to Alcester.
Don't disagree with much of this. Except that the economy of Manchester has grown consistently faster than the rest of the country. Regeneration done at a way bigger scale, for over 30 years, it's actually brought in real new investment and business and it's much more than just lipstick on a big boosterism.
I visit Manchester all the time, having lived there for 7, and it's obviously much richer and more prosperous than 15 years ago and light years ahead compared to 30 years ago. Not even remotely comparable. And not just in the centre. Your criticism of Manchester feels more like political points scoring than objective criticism, I'm afraid.
Very balanced article, excellent summary.