November 2023
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This conference discussed the future for levelling up policy and implementation at a local level, in the context of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023, which received royal assent in October 2023.
It was a timely opportunity to assess priorities for enabling locally-driven decision-making following the latest legislation, looking at:
- investment and governance structures
- strategies for maximising positive impact on housing, education and skills, economic growth, and wellbeing
- understanding and building the evidence base to inform guidance
Further sessions assessed priorities for achieving value for money, and latest thinking, initiatives and case studies in regeneration through local community projects, following the DLUHC announcement of £1.1bn in funding for towns over a 10-year period.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Shadow Spokesperson, Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government; Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist, Institute for Government; Graeme Atherton, Head, Centre for Inequality and Levelling Up; and Jeffrey Matsu, Chief Economist, The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (pre-recorded contribution).
Overall, sessions in the agenda included:
- assessing government proposals: key issues and next steps for levelling up and regeneration - implications for local administrations, communities and economies - alternative policy approaches
- local empowerment:
- implementing locally-driven decision-making and investment - governance structures - guidance
- harnessing evidence - maximising positive impact on housing, education and skills, economic growth, and wellbeing
- financial analysis: value for money and benefit for local communities in light of proposals in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023
- best practice: initiatives and case studies in local and regional regeneration
- transport: enabling access to improved services to tackle inequalities in rural communities
- wellbeing: improving tourism, environmental protection and growth through the Levelling Up Fund
- investment: engaging with the private sector for successful promotion and regeneration opportunities in community projects
- policy: the future of levelling up and regeneration - prospects for increasing regional investment
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from Active Travel England; DAERA, NI; Defra; Department for the Economy, NI; Department of Finance, NI; DfE; DfT; DLUHC; DSIT; DWP; GLD; HM Treasury; Home Office; NIC; ONS; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government.
