The PM and the Chancellor want to promote growth locally, provided it will not alienate their electors or MP’s. This growth mind-set is welcome. Fear of alienating their voting base is reality too.
But the new homes, the infrastructure and the growth they want will not happen without one key ingredient: local leadership. Several decades of confrontational debate make this ingredient a rarity locally. To progress local leadership must take the initiative. But most local councillors in high pressure strong growth areas are scared, for good reason. Instead they react, but do not lead.
The essence of successful places, where people want to go, want to live, want to work is far sighted, proactive leadership. Is this simply too much to hope?
Look at the example of landed estates. They have a long pedigree of creating value. Finding a policy to create added value in local areas is the measure of success.
Ian Campbell
27 September 2022
