00Foreword
Everyone in the UK should have the same chance to thrive. No matter where they are, people should be able to find work that allows them to flourish, live in a good home, and benefit from a healthy environment and vibrant community. To give everyone those opportunities, the country urgently needs to tackle the inequalities that exist within and between the different regions.
To this end, Aviva welcomes the government’s recent commitment to transformative regeneration projects as part of their levelling up white paper. Our cities are the engine room of our nation’s growth and helping them fire on all cylinders would go a long way to creating both a fairer nation and a more resilient economy.
As a major UK institutional investor, companies like Aviva can play a big role in helping such regeneration succeed. By developing high quality projects tailored to the specific needs of the area, we can contribute to a healthier, more prosperous society. We can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable economy. And the investment can lead to long-term, reliable returns that in turn support the retirement income of UK pensioners.
This is easy to say. But the reality is that these regeneration projects are extremely complex. Success depends on innovative thinking and the private and public sectors working together to apply creative approaches to complicated, long-standing problems. It depends on the right mix of capabilities and experience. And it relies on long-term partners with a long-standing relationship with and interest in their communities.
It is also crucial to have the right policy framework. I’d like to thank the Centre for Cities for the important research they have done in creating this report. It offers valuable insight into how to create the right conditions for success. I’d urge anyone with an interest in this important agenda to consider its recommendations, so that we have the best chance of building a better tomorrow for our communities and our country.
