Autumn Statement 2013: Submission

For the UK to compete and win in the global race, it must make the most of its cities. The UK’s 64 largest cities are home to over half of all businesses and responsible for 60 per cent of the UK’s gross domestic product. Yet seven out of nine of the largest English cities have economic performance below the national average. This is why the Autumn Statement needs to Think Cities.

Now is the time for the government to build on the progress made to date on City Deals, the Localism Agenda and the Heseltine Single Pot and truly put cities at the heart of a renewed strategy for national prosperity.

This means boosting city centres, building more housing where it is needed and driving greater levels of infrastructure investment to unlock economic growth across the country.