press releases 2006

Manage Olympic expectations to deliver a positive legacy

Date: 19/12/2006

Olympic decision makers in Government, London, and the rest of the UK must be careful not to over emphasise the economic benefits of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games if they want to deliver a lasting legacy, according to a new report published today (Tuesday) by Centre for Cities at ippr.

Eddington Transport Study

Date: 01/12/2006

The Queen's Speech: Mayor of London Bill & Local Government Bill

Date: 15/11/2006

Centre for Cities responds to the Mayor of London Bill and new powers for Ken Livingstone.

North of England should be enterprise policy priority

Date: 14/11/2006

Many of Britain's deprived urban areas are still falling behind on business and job creation, according to the Centre for Cities at ippr. The warning comes during Enterprise Week (13-17 Nov) and while the Government is reviewing enterprise and business support policies.

Local Government White Paper

Date: 26/10/2006

The Department for Communities and Local Government published the Local Government White Paper on the 26th October. Here is our reaction.

The Centre for Cities and ippr north's reaction to the OECD Review of Newcastle and the North East

Date: 20/07/2006

Sue Stirling, Director of ippr north, said:
The report is firm but fair. The critique of existing strategies is well made and rightly declares that an integrated strategic framework with clear priorities is overdue.

Dermot Finch, Director of the Centre for Cities at ippr, said:
We agree with this Review. The North East's governance arrangements are not fit for purpose. We are pleased that the Review backs our own recommendations for financial devolution to city-regions and elected city-regional mayors.”

More powers for the Mayor of London: response from the Centre for Cities

Date: 13/07/2006

We support today's announcement of more powers for the Mayor of London. Ken Livingstone hasn't got everything he asked for, but these new powers will help him grow London's economy.

“This Review shows that the Government is willing to devolve more powers to elected mayors. Our City Leadership report called for elected mayors in our other major cities. Ruth Kelly now supports elected mayors. Manchester, Birmingham and others should take note.”

London needs smarter support for 'business-deprived' areas

Date: 19/06/2006

Government attempts to boost business activity in deprived areas of London have had disappointing results, according to a new report from the Centre for Cities at the ippr published today (Monday). It says instead of trying to boost enterprise in every deprived area - like Camden, Islington and Westminster - future business-led regeneration programmes should focus on “business-deprived” areas that need more local businesses and jobs like Doncaster, St Helens and Sunderland.

North East enterprise needs smarter Government help for 'business-deprived' areas

Date: 19/06/2006

Government attempts to boost business activity in the North East have had disappointing results, according to a new report from the Centre for Cities at the ippr published today (Monday). It says instead of trying to boost enterprise in every deprived area, future business-led regeneration programmes should focus on “business-deprived” areas which can sustain new enterprises – like Sunderland.

Government needs to get smarter on enterprise in 'business-deprived' areas

Publication: City Markets
Date: 19/06/2006

Government attempts to boost business activity in deprived areas have had disappointing results, according to a new report from the Centre for Cities at the ippr published today (Monday). Instead of trying to boost enterprise in all deprived areas, future business-led regeneration programmes should focus on “business-deprived” areas.

Cities should share £3.5 billion EU funding

Publication: City Leadership
Date: 24/04/2006

Newcastle, Glasgow, Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester should be the focus of £3.5 billion of European Structural Funding according to a new report by the Centre for Cities at the Institute for Public Policy Research, published today (Monday).

Centre for Cities response to the State of the English Cities report

Date: 07/03/2006

This report shows that our cities have got better over the last two decades. But it also shows that growth has been uneven. Cities in the north and west of England still lag behind those in the south and east. And there are still big differences in performance within each of our cities. All our cities need to build on their own unique assets and focus on the key drivers of future growth - strong leadership and investment in transport and skills."

Birmingham and Manchester need mayors with tax and spend powers

Publication: City Leadership
Date: 22/02/2006

Greater Birmingham and Greater Manchester should have elected mayors that control spending on transport, regeneration, skills and the power to raise business tax according to new research published today (Wednesday) by the Institute for Public Policy Research's Centre for Cities.

Greater Birmingham needs mayor with tax and spend powers

Publication: City Leadership
Date: 22/02/2006

More spending power should be devolved to Greater Birmingham under the control of a directly-elected mayor, according to the Centre for Cities. New research published today (Wednesday) says Birmingham should be able to fund its own transport projects, such as redeveloping New Street Station, rather than depending entirely on Whitehall.

More financial freedom for Liverpool

Publication: City Leadership
Date: 22/02/2006

Liverpool City Council should have greater control over regeneration spending in the city according to new research published today (Wednesday) by the Centre for Cities. The report recommends the creation of an ‘Economic Development Contract' (EDC) to enable Liverpool to set its own regeneration spending priorities.

Greater Manchester needs mayor with tax and spend powers

Publication: City Leadership
Date: 22/02/2006

More spending power should be devolved to Greater Manchester under the control of a directly-elected mayor, according to the Centre for Cities. New research published today (Wednesday) says Manchester should be able to fund its own transport priorities, such as extending Metrolink, rather than depending entirely on Whitehall.

Barnsley needs more financial freedom

Publication: City Leadership
Date: 22/02/2006

Barnsley Council should have greater control over local regeneration budgets, according to new research published today (Wednesday) by the Centre for Cities. The research argues for the creation of an ‘Economic Development Contract' that would enable Barnsley to set its own regeneration spending priorities.

Dundee students driving growth in city centre living

Publication: City People: City Centre living in the UK
Date: 11/01/2006

Dundee city centre has been transformed by students moving in but the city now needs to create more jobs to keep them, according to new research published today (Wednesday) by ippr's Centre for Cities

Young people driving Liverpool city centre living boom

Publication: City People: City Centre living in the UK
Date: 11/01/2006

Liverpool city centre has been transformed by young people moving in but the city now needs to create more jobs to keep them, according to new research published today (Wednesday) by ippr's Centre for Cities. The research shows that after decades of decline, Liverpool's city centre population grew by 40% during the 1990s. The current population is around 15,000 people, two-thirds of whom are students and young professionals.

Manchester's young people driving city centre living boom

Publication: City People: City Centre living in the UK
Date: 11/01/2006

City centre living in Manchester is best suited to young single people, not families, according to new research published today (Wednesday) by ippr's Centre for Cities.

City centres should stay 'young, free and single'

Publication: City People: City Centre Living in the UK
Date: 11/01/2006

British city centre residents are predominantly young, single people, and most city centres cannot be made ‘family friendly' places to live, according to new research published today (Wednesday) by the Institute for Public Policy Research's Centre for Cities. The research examines the growth of city centre living outside London.