City Markets: Business location in deprived areas

Article

City Markets concludes that Business-led regeneration should focus on business-deprived areas but that the Government should subsidise business activity only where specific market failures exist, in proportion to those market failures and in line with local labour market and other conditions.

Boosting enterprise in deprived areas has been a recurring goal of government policy. But enterprise programmes have had disappointing results in deprived areas, and been poorly targeted. The Comprehensive Spending Review is now looking to rationalise and improve economic development and regeneration schemes.

This report will contribute to that process, looking at deprived areas according to their levels of business activity. It focuses on a group of 30 business-deprived areas - those Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) districts that have very low levels of business activity. Most are in the North-East (e.g. Sunderland) and the North-West (e.g. Oldham). Five are in London (e.g. Newham). Separately, a minority of deprived areas have relatively high levels of business activity (e.g. Preston, Leeds and Camden).

City Markets concludes that Business-led regeneration should focus on business-deprived areas but that the Government should subsidise business activity only where specific market failures exist, in proportion to those market failures and in line with local labour market and other conditions.

Centre for Cities has re-launched as an independent think tank. To purchase this book, please email admin@centreforcities.org. You can visit Centre for Cities online at http://www.centreforcities.org.

Related items

  1. A mother and child from behind looking out of a window

    Hidden hardships: The immigration system and child poverty

    Child poverty remains a persistent and deeply rooted issue in the UK. 
  2. A diverse group of children sit in a colourful nursery setting, clapping along with the childminder

    Every child is equal: Bridging the childcare gap for families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)

    Migrant families subject to the no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition are prevented from accessing most forms of support with childcare costs, including the expanded entitlement for working parents.

  3. Grangemouth after the refinery: lessons from history in how we make a just transition real

    Making sure support mechanisms are in place for workers at the Grangemouth refinery, and for anyone else in employment across Scotland, is crucial.