Centre for Cities


The Centre for Cities is an independent, non-partisan urban policy research unit and a charity registered in England. The Centre's main goal is to understand how and why economic growth and change takes place in the United Kingdom's cities.

History

The Centre for Cities was launched in March 2005 as part of IPPR and became independent in November 2007.

Research

The Centre produces an annual Cities Outlook report assessing the economic performance of the 64 largest towns and cities in the United Kingdom. From 2016 onwards the Centre for Cities reevaluated its methodology for defining Primary Urban Areas, based on this it now recognises 63 Primary urban areas in the UK, with Grimsby and Hastings dropped and Basildon, Exeter and Slough included and Bolton and Rochdale merged with the Manchester PUA.
In 2018, the Centre for Cities released a report challenging the Government's approach to improving UK business productivity. They suggest that the Government should focus on the UK's weaker regions to attract more productive exporters, and not just focus on the UK's least productive companies in general.

Funding

Centre for Cities has been a given a B grade for funding transparency by Who Funds You?