The UK’s economy is driven by the success of its largest cities and towns, which generate opportunities and prosperity for people in all parts of the country.
Our mission is to help the UK’s largest cities and towns realise their economic potential.
We produce rigorous, data-driven research and policy ideas to help cities, large towns and Government address the challenges and opportunities they face – from boosting productivity and wages to preparing for the changing world of work.
We also work closely with urban leaders, Whitehall and business to ensure our work is relevant, accessible and of practical use to cities, large towns and policy makers.
In partnership with LSE, we run the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth, which analyses which policies are most effective in supporting and increasing local economic growth.
The Centre was first established in March 2005 as a team within the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). Following a successful initial phase at IPPR, the Centre became an independent company in April 2007. It is a registered charity (No. 1119841) and a company limited by guarantee (No. 6215397).
As well as providing a deep dive into the latest economic data on the UK’s cities and largest towns, this year our flagship publication focuses on the scale and geography of economic inactivity across the country.
This report maps out the current geography of the new economy and calls for the creation of a £14.5 billion growth package to build innovation districts in Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester.
This report sets out what the cost of living crisis is, what is driving it, and how the squeeze on disposable incomes is likely to be felt across the UK’s cities and largest towns.
Centre for Cities' new report in partnership with Aviva argues that for the Government's regeneration schemes to succeed they should focus on city centres and be backed by public funding and planning reform.
This report examines whether intra-urban public transport plays a role in the underperformance of big British cities and sets out the implications that transport has for the levelling up agenda.
In advance of the Government’s forthcoming Levelling Up White Paper, this briefing sets out what the levelling up agenda should aim to achieve and a strategy for achieving it.
The UK has pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This report sets out what needs to change if cities and large towns are to lead the way in helping the Government achieve this goal.
This report, published in partnership with Clarion Housing Group, analyses how the pandemic has affected people’s spending, saving and debt, and evaluates what this means for the recovery of the UK’s cities and largest towns.
