Support for our cultural institutions
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly had a dramatic impact on cultural institutions across the UK as venues operate at limited capacity due to social distancing measures, or have faced the stark reality of closing their doors to tourists and visitors. Key Cities is home to around 57,000 jobs in the arts, entertainment and recreation sectors, […]
Key Cities’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 has undoubtedly been a year that has presented unique and significant challenges for the UK’s towns and cities. At Key Cities, we have been working closely with our members to ensure our voices are heard by central Government, whilst highlighting the role of our towns and cities […]
Key Cities’ response to the Future High Streets Fund
This article was originally published in The MJ. On Boxing Day last year, the communities secretary Robert Jenrick announced the government’s plan to invest £830m in more than 70 town centres across England. The money, from the Future High Streets Fund, will not only help these areas recover from the coronavirus pandemic, it will support […]
Key Cities’ response to 2020 Spending Review
The Government’s 2020 Spending Review provided us all with a stark reminder of the economic impact of COVID-19, which has laid bare the regional inequalities across the economies of the UK’s towns and cities. As we approach 2021 and look towards the economic recovery from the pandemic, we must not fail to recognise that the […]
Key Cities’ response to 2020 budget
“As a group, Key Cities shares the Government’s focus on levelling up our regional communities and unleashing the UK’s economic potential and stand ready to contribute to the development of both the National Infrastructure Strategy and National Bus Strategy. The cut in interest rates for social housing loans are also a step in the right […]
Key Cities: four new members announced
Carlisle, Gloucester, Medway and Swansea have all officially joined the collective, which launched in 2013 and now encompasses 24 diverse cities across the UK, with immediate effect. Each of the new member cities brings valuable contributions to the group’s growing network, which seeks to generate awareness of the economic contributions of its member cities and […]
Key Cities elects new Chair
Cllr John Merry CBE, Deputy City Mayor of Salford takes the position of Chair with immediate effect, joining Deputy Chairs Cllr Michael Mordey and Cllr Alan Jarrett on the group’s leadership team. His appointment follows former Cllr Peter Box MBE’s recent resignation as Leader of Wakefield Council and Chair of the Key Cities group. Cllr […]
Homes England grants – the geographical spread
On 30 October 2018 in a short statement placed on The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government website, the Government announced the ‘geographical targeting’ of the following five housing programmes: the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) Forward Fund (FF) (£500m announced in the Budget, in addition to £5 billion previously announced); Estates Regeneration Fund (approximately £180m); […]
Housing investment skewed in favour of South, new report finds
The distribution of roughly £7 billion of government investment in five separate housing programmes over the next five years is inconsistent across England, with areas across the South of the country disproportionately funded, according to a new report from Core Cities UK and the Key Cities Group. The two bodies, which between them represent 30 key […]
Post-Brexit funding APPG seeks submissions
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Post-Brexit Funding for Nations, Regions and Local Areas is a newly-established group of Westminster MPs. Its Chair is Stephen Kinnock (Lab) and its Vice-Chairs are Bill Grant (Con), Chris Stephens (SNP), Jo Platt (Lab) and Anna McMorrin (Lab). The aim of the group is to help shape plans for […]
