London Gets Almost Twice the Investment in Infrastructure Projects

Despite promises to "level-up" the country, London continues to receive nearly double the amount of investment in infrastructure projects compared to the rest of England. The capital receives an average investment of £6,058 per person, while the rest of England only receives £3,316, highlighting a significant regional disparity.

Levelling Up: A Pledge That Needs More Work

In the 2019 general election campaign, then Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to reduce regional inequality through a concept called "levelling up." However, a report by the Purposeful Finance Commission argues that more needs to be done to connect private investors with communities to truly achieve this goal.

Councils' Lack of Expertise Hinders Progress

One of the significant barriers to delivering infrastructure projects is the lack of expertise in councils' planning and regeneration teams. This lack of knowledge and experience slows down the process and hampers the ability to connect with private investors effectively.

Time-Consuming Planning Regime Slows Down Development

Developers face a time-consuming planning regime, spending four times as long getting permission to build as they do actually constructing a scheme. This bureaucratic delay further exacerbates the regional inequality gap.

The Best Performing Area: Camden and City of London

Camden and the City of London stand out as the best performing area in terms of investment levels, receiving nearly seven times the national average. This highlights the stark contrast between different regions within England.

£1 Billion Levelling Up Funding Announced

Chancellor Rishi Sunak recently announced £1 billion of levelling up funding for 55 towns to be distributed over the next decade. As part of the Long Term Plan for Towns, these areas will establish a board to bring together businesses, councils, and community leaders.

Government Urged to Double Down on Levelling Up Mission

A Whitehall source emphasized the importance of doubling down on the mission to level up ahead of the next election, as highlighted by the Purposeful Finance Commission's report. The source stated that the report demonstrates why it is vital for the government to take action to address regional inequality.