Until recently, decisions about how to remedy these problems were the preserve of Whitehall, but today the devolution agenda is starting to put city leaders in the driving seat. Giving them the powers and resources they need to shape their own destinies is proving to be a great success.
In July, the Commission published its inaugural National Infrastructure Assessment, setting out a vision for meeting infrastructure needs across a 30-year time horizon. One of its pivotal strands is helping cities realise their full potential through transformational investment. And this isn’t just about those with a metro mayor. From Nottingham to Norwich and Brighton to Burnley, we want local leaders in cities of every size, every structure and every location to get more help to create brilliant places to live and work.