A report described the methodology used in constructing and analysing a 'town and city indicators database'; the main findings emerging from the analysis of the indicators; and the key issues arising for future research. While London experienced greater than average population growth, metropolitan areas experienced population loss. Smaller towns and cities experienced greater than average growth in population from 1991 to 2001. Increasing employment was recorded throughout urban areas, though relative gains were less pronounced in metropolitan areas outside London, and in freestanding cities and industrial areas.
Source: Developing a Town and Cities Indicators Database, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Dec
A report described how eight regional 'core cities' in England - Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield - had succeeded in attracting jobs and investment to city centres. It said that neighbouring cities needed to work more closely together in their 'city region', to increase their economic competitiveness and accelerate growth.
Source: Core Cities Working Group, Our Cities are Back, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report | ODPM press release
Date: 2004-Dec
A think-tank report said that the small firms driving regeneration in the poorest areas were being priced out by the very inner city renaissance they were helping to create. It recommended that land should be held in trust in regeneration areas to enable job and wealth creation to benefit those that lived and worked locally.
Source: John Taylor, Anne-Marie Davies and Andrea Westall, The Inner City 100: Impacts and Influences, New Economics Foundation (020 7820 6300)
Links: Report (pdf) | NEF press release
Date: 2004-Nov
A report presented data for 24 cities in the United Kingdom under a range of headings, including social cohesion, urban competitiveness, urban liveability, and urban governance.
Source: Urban Audit, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2004-Oct
A right-of-centre think tank published a collection of articles on policies for tackling the problems of deprived inner city areas.
Source: Damian Hinds and Guy Strafford (eds.), Go Zones: Policies for the places politics forgot, Bow Group (020 7431 6400)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Aug
An issue of the journal Urban Studies contained a series of articles on sex and sexuality in the urban context - including prostitution, adult entertainment districts, and homosexuality.
Source: Urban Studies, Volume 41 Number 9
Links: Contents page
Date: 2004-Aug
A think-tank report said that the drift towards 'clone towns', where standardized shops and facilities were robbing towns of their distinctive identity, was rooted in much wider cultural and economic trends that were destroying diversity.
Source: Molly Conisbee et al., Clone Town Britain: The loss of local identity on the nation's high streets, New Economics Foundation (020 7820 6300)
Links: Report (pdf) | NEF press release
Date: 2004-Aug
The Official for National Statistics published a group of four separate reports, based on the 2001 Census, profiling urban areas of England and Wales.
Source: Key Statistics for Urban Areas in the North, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Key Statistics for Urban Areas in the Midlands, TSO | Key Statistics for Urban Areas in the South East, TSO | Key Statistics for Urban Areas in the South West and Wales, TSO
Links: Links to reports | ONS press release (1) (pdf) | ONS press release (2) (pdf) | ONS press release (3) (pdf) | ONS press release (4) (pdf) | ONS press release (5) (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jul
A report by a committee of MPs expressed concern over whether a reorganisation programme would end the 'unmanaged decline' of the urban post office network. If decline continued, the government would need to give very serious consideration to underpinning the urban network in a similar way to its programme of support for rural post offices.
Source: The Post Office Urban Network Reinvention Programme, Seventh Report (Session 2003-04), HC 611-I, House of Commons Trade and Industry Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2004-Jul
A report (based on the 2001 Census) said that nearly 9 in 10 people in England and Wales lived in cities, towns and other urbanised areas. The proportion of people living in urban areas had slightly increased since 1991, by 0.2 per cent.
Source: Census 2001: Key Statistics for Urban Areas in England and Wales, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf links) | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jun
A new book reviewed the findings of a major programme of cities research sponsored by the Economic and Social Research Council, organised around the themes of competitiveness, social cohesion, and the role of policy and governance.
Source: Martin Boddy and Michael Parkinson (eds.), City Matters: Competitiveness, cohesion and urban governance, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-May
A report summarised the background to, and outcome of, a policy 'stocktake' of the national programme of urban regeneration companies. It set out some examples of good practice, and explained next steps in relation to developing policy. The government said that it had decided to expand the programme to new areas.
Source: Urban Regeneration Companies Policy Stocktake: Final report, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 2643) | Press release 11 May 2004, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: Report (pdf) | ODPM press release
Date: 2004-May
The government published a progress report showing the revitalisation of leading cities outside London. It set out progress against specific themes: strong local leadership; economic performance; city centre renaissance; housing conditions; and quality of life.
Source: A Tale of Eight Cities, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report | ODPM press release
Date: 2004-Apr
A report said that the largest cities urgently needed the freedom to raise 70 billion to deal with 'grossly inadequate' transport systems.
Source: Stephen Glaister with Tony Travers and John Wakefield, Back on Track Or off the Rails?, Development Securities PLC (020 7828 4777)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Apr
A report said that while over half of all local authorities surveyed viewed growth in the evening and night time economies positively, many had not made the necessary preparations to manage any significant growth.
Source: First National Survey Evening and Night-time Activities in England, Civic Trust (020 7930 0914) and Central Cities Institute/University of Westminster
Links: Report | Case studies | Civic Trust press release
Date: 2004-Apr
A survey report said that choking traffic, new superstores and bland new buildings were threatening the character of England's market towns.
Source: Market Towns: Losing their Character?, Campaign to Protect Rural England (020 7981 2800)
Links: Report (pdf) | CPRE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Mar
A literature review examined research and evidence regarding the role of transport in city competitiveness.
Source: Llewelyn-Davies (consultancy) with David Banister and Peter Hall, Transport and City Competitiveness: Literature review, Department for Transport (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report
Date: 2004-Feb
The Home Secretary called for a wider application of the practice (as seen, for example, in many gated communities) where people contributed financially towards security and order, and also environmental quality, in the immediate area in which they lived. He said that this approach should be adopted by local councils as a way of improving community safety and re-engaging residents in local democracy.
Source: Speech by David Blunkett MP (Home Secretary) to New Local Government Network conference 22 January 2004, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Text of speech | Home Office press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jan
A report called for more action to enhance the rural-urban fringe. It said that around each urban area there was a hinterland (comprising up to 20 per cent of the total land area) that should be a place used to improve people's health, grow local food and provide sustainable jobs.
Source: Unlocking the Potential of the Rural Urban Fringe, Countryside Agency (0870 120 6466) and Groundwork
Links: Report (pdf) | Groundwork press release
Date: 2004-Jan
A report said that many of the English 'core cities' - Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield - lagged behind their European competitors in terms of gross domestic product, innovation levels, educational levels, connectivity, social cohesion, quality of life, political capacity, and connections with their wider territories.
Source: Michael Parkinson, Mary Hutchins, James Simmie, Greg Clark and Hans Verdonk, Competitive European Cities: Where do the core cities stand?, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2004-Jan