Economic Growth, Housing & Infrastructure

But despite this, counties have unique challenges which, if they are not addressed, will hamper this country’s economic progress which is so crucial post Brexit. Counties suffer from lower-than average productivity compared to the major cities, have infrastructure gaps amounting to billions over the coming years, and contain some of the least affordable housing in the country, especially in the south east.

Many of the domestic economic issues facing the Government can begin to be addressed by tapping into counties’ potential. Oxford Economics has argued that counties should play a bigger role in the Government’s Industrial Strategy, and CCN is calling for the strategy to truly seize on this with policies that truly empower all four corners of the country, deliver the next phase of devolution, and provide investment for infrastructure. Counties are also well placed to be a significant role in developing badly-needed homes for our communities; with a greater county role via strategic planning helping to align housing and infrastructure, increase collaboration between local authority partners, offering a blueprint for a more streamlined system that delivers homes in the right locations