Growth Driver
Supporting local areas to realise their growth potential
As Government embarks on a ‘devolution revolution’ with greater powers and funding to boost economic growth pushed down to the local level, Strategic Authorities are set to play a leading role in driving growth across the country.
By reflecting the functional geography of local economies, they are uniquely positioned to identify priorities for growth, including those that are aligned with the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy. These will be set out within ambitious 10-year Local Growth Plans and supported by Spatial Development Strategies to guide economic growth and investment across their area.
Meanwhile, wider local government reorganisation introduces a new administrative geography for England through universal coverage of unitary councils.This poses widespread implications in terms of how local economic growth and development activity is planned for, funded, delivered, and scrutinised.
In responding to these challenges and opportunities, both existing and newly formed authorities will need access to up-to-date evidence in order to set clear strategy goals and make choices about where to focus resources and investment, alongside demonstrating the impact of their interventions and how they can deliver the best value for public money.
Growth Driver provides a range of tools to help strategic and local authorities to shape the economic growth agenda for their area and realise this growth potential through unlocking funding and investment opportunities.
