Clients with a spatial development remit – whether local authorities, Mayoral Combined Authorities, city-region partnerships, devolved administrations or (in England) local enterprise partnerships – are a major focus for our research, policy analysis and feasibility and impact assessment studies. What makes for sustainable and inclusive growth at a local level? What factors reinforce strongly performing places, and which lead to decline?

Key themes have long been the linkages between economic conditions, infrastructure, land, key businesses and education and research institutions, employment and workforce engagement. These "factors" are not new, but relationships between them are evolving very quickly: digital technologies are creating new possibilities; culture and creativity are increasingly central to socio-economic well-being at a local level; and local responses to the climate emergency are adding further imperatives. The consequence is that local ecosystems are constantly changing as relationships to "place" become both deeper and more variable, not least as international linkages also evolve. Across all of this, enhancing local productivity and advancing growth models that are more inclusive are clear priorities both within local areas and through central government policy. We work closely with local partners and stakeholders to help to decide "how to intervene well" across these domains, recognising the impacts on different places and groups, and the intended and unintended effects of public policy.Spatial_Expertise.jpg

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