Evidence base

State of the English Cities: Report and Database (SOCD)

State of the English Cities: Report and Database (SOCD) report commissioned by ODPM and published in March 2006, highlighted a dramatic transformation in our major urban centres including the 8 core cities [External website] - Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Newcastle and Sheffield. New jobs are being created, people are moving back in and services are improving. However, English cities continue to face difficult challenges and economic performance is uneven.

'State of the English Cities: Report and Database (SOCD)' key finding is that English cities are now best placed to lift their economic performance and close the gap between England's cities and the very best performing cities in Europe and elsewhere.

Use the link 'The State of the English cities' above for more information including how to download both volumes comprising the report, order copies and access its accompanying database online, which provides access to updated data that underpins the State of the English Cities: Report and Database (SOCD) report and enables the user to compile summary reports for each of the 56 primary urban areas represented in it.

The importance of cities to regional growth

Devolving decision making: 3 - Meeting the regional economic challenge: The importance of cities to regional growth [External site], was also published in March 2006 alongside the Budget by HMT, Communities and Local Government and DTI jointly. It explores the economic opportunities and challenges facing English cities, building on evidence from 'State of the English Cities: Report and Database (SOCD)' report and beyond.

It announced that, in preparation for the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007, the Government is looking at how to further improve the effectiveness and efficiency of existing sub-national structures in England- including governance, incentives and powers. This report also sets out the Government's initial assessment of the role that cities play in driving both regional and national economic growth.