Local growth and productivity are issues that successive governments have tried to resolve, with limited effect. The current Labour Government has emphasised the importance of Local Growth Plans (LGPs) as part of a place-based approach. LGPs are to be locally owned and developed as part of a strategic partnership between Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and Central Government.

Previous attempts to improve local growth and productivity include Smart Specialisation, Strategic Economic Plans, Local Industrial Strategies and Levelling Up. Each of these programmes has had different bodies responsible for formulation and implementation, different policy drivers from national government and different opportunities for public investment attached to them. There is a large body of academic and grey literature focusing on the purpose of growth plans, and how national governments should (or should not) support their development and implementation.

Often the process for developing local growth is designed and driven by national government, but locally there is invaluable experience and expertise built up over time. There is therefore an appetite for a more bottom-up approach to LGPs.

This briefing focuses on how regions can harness existing knowledge and expertise to formulate a local plan that works for their place. In this briefing we translate the research on regional development into actionable insights, showing how regions can both capitalise on place-based assets and external opportunities, and overcome the obstacles for growth in their region.