Yunze Wang
@yz18.bsky.social
Analyst at Centre for Cities. Housing, economic development and cool statistics. I like news and desserts. Views my own.
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So we define Manchester as GM minus Wigan, and Leeds as just Leeds (this is based mostly on travel-to-work patterns). If one looks at Manchester (the city council area) alone, it may be ahead.
Still, Leeds has had quite strong growth post-2019 in both GVA and productivity.*
*Data is provisional
Still, Leeds has had quite strong growth post-2019 in both GVA and productivity.*
*Data is provisional
December 18, 2025 at 12:40 PM
So we define Manchester as GM minus Wigan, and Leeds as just Leeds (this is based mostly on travel-to-work patterns). If one looks at Manchester (the city council area) alone, it may be ahead.
Still, Leeds has had quite strong growth post-2019 in both GVA and productivity.*
*Data is provisional
Still, Leeds has had quite strong growth post-2019 in both GVA and productivity.*
*Data is provisional
In our data, Leeds is now above national average productivity (provisional data). It would be the first city in the north/midlands to do so.
Trams aside, my colleague recently estimated the economic impact of better transport links, including in Leeds: www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
Trams aside, my colleague recently estimated the economic impact of better transport links, including in Leeds: www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
Integrated transport: The size of the prize for mayors - Centre for Cities
This report sets out the connectivity and economic impacts for city regions integrating their public transport networks.
www.centreforcities.org
December 18, 2025 at 12:22 PM
In our data, Leeds is now above national average productivity (provisional data). It would be the first city in the north/midlands to do so.
Trams aside, my colleague recently estimated the economic impact of better transport links, including in Leeds: www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
Trams aside, my colleague recently estimated the economic impact of better transport links, including in Leeds: www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
Going by 2023 data, Leeds is now above the national level of productivity (even accounting for the noise in hours worked data). It would be the third big city to do so, after London and Bristol. So it has the potential to be quite a regional economic hub.
December 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Going by 2023 data, Leeds is now above the national level of productivity (even accounting for the noise in hours worked data). It would be the third big city to do so, after London and Bristol. So it has the potential to be quite a regional economic hub.
Oh agreed. They made a bad decision in this case. But broadly this decision, along with the fiscal power, should have been devolved in the first place.
December 18, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Oh agreed. They made a bad decision in this case. But broadly this decision, along with the fiscal power, should have been devolved in the first place.
Think it says a lot about the degree of risk aversion when "building a needed transport system in a big city with one of the fastest-growing economies in the country" is still not safe enough of a bet.
If this is not a clear case for intervention, I am not sure what is.
If this is not a clear case for intervention, I am not sure what is.
December 18, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Think it says a lot about the degree of risk aversion when "building a needed transport system in a big city with one of the fastest-growing economies in the country" is still not safe enough of a bet.
If this is not a clear case for intervention, I am not sure what is.
If this is not a clear case for intervention, I am not sure what is.
That knowledge has also been growing at ~5.7% a year since 2019.
Thanks in part to that, Leeds is also now the only big city in the North/Midlands to have productivity above the national average.
One has to wonder whether this decision would really hurt that momentum.
Thanks in part to that, Leeds is also now the only big city in the North/Midlands to have productivity above the national average.
One has to wonder whether this decision would really hurt that momentum.
December 18, 2025 at 11:05 AM
That knowledge has also been growing at ~5.7% a year since 2019.
Thanks in part to that, Leeds is also now the only big city in the North/Midlands to have productivity above the national average.
One has to wonder whether this decision would really hurt that momentum.
Thanks in part to that, Leeds is also now the only big city in the North/Midlands to have productivity above the national average.
One has to wonder whether this decision would really hurt that momentum.
They did announce a recyclable fund for commercial spaces (offices, labs, etc.) recently, which I thought was rather positive.
We will see soon what they do with the Strategic Site Accelerator. But agree that planning is only one part of the Industrial Strategy.
We will see soon what they do with the Strategic Site Accelerator. But agree that planning is only one part of the Industrial Strategy.
December 17, 2025 at 2:06 PM
They did announce a recyclable fund for commercial spaces (offices, labs, etc.) recently, which I thought was rather positive.
We will see soon what they do with the Strategic Site Accelerator. But agree that planning is only one part of the Industrial Strategy.
We will see soon what they do with the Strategic Site Accelerator. But agree that planning is only one part of the Industrial Strategy.
Overall, this is a very promising policy. There are certainly opportunities for the Government to go further. But this is a great step in addressing a local and national economic priority.
You can read the Government policy document here as well: shorturl.at/jCjqU
You can read the Government policy document here as well: shorturl.at/jCjqU
Mayoral Revolving Growth Fund: policy statement
shorturl.at
December 9, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Overall, this is a very promising policy. There are certainly opportunities for the Government to go further. But this is a great step in addressing a local and national economic priority.
You can read the Government policy document here as well: shorturl.at/jCjqU
You can read the Government policy document here as well: shorturl.at/jCjqU
The MRGF is multi-year and recoverable. The six mayors will get £500m among themselves in one go. They will have the freedom to make decisions on investments, and the profits from these investments will be reinvested in the fund.
So the fund does not have to be at risk of future spending cuts.
So the fund does not have to be at risk of future spending cuts.
December 9, 2025 at 11:55 AM
The MRGF is multi-year and recoverable. The six mayors will get £500m among themselves in one go. They will have the freedom to make decisions on investments, and the profits from these investments will be reinvested in the fund.
So the fund does not have to be at risk of future spending cuts.
So the fund does not have to be at risk of future spending cuts.
In the centres of many cities, commercial developments remain risky and often unviable. The MRGF aims to use public money to crowd private investments.
December 9, 2025 at 11:54 AM
In the centres of many cities, commercial developments remain risky and often unviable. The MRGF aims to use public money to crowd private investments.
Focusing on city centres is very sensible. These are the most productive places in the country and attract the most high-value businesses (see their importance for the Industrial Strategy sectors). And commercial developments are key for high-value businesses.
December 9, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Focusing on city centres is very sensible. These are the most productive places in the country and attract the most high-value businesses (see their importance for the Industrial Strategy sectors). And commercial developments are key for high-value businesses.
The MRGF gives six mayors funding for commercial developments, particularly in city centres.
All of the mayors cover large cities, whose economic underperformance is a key reason for the country’s lack of growth. For example, most of them have productivity below the national average.
All of the mayors cover large cities, whose economic underperformance is a key reason for the country’s lack of growth. For example, most of them have productivity below the national average.
December 9, 2025 at 11:53 AM
The MRGF gives six mayors funding for commercial developments, particularly in city centres.
All of the mayors cover large cities, whose economic underperformance is a key reason for the country’s lack of growth. For example, most of them have productivity below the national average.
All of the mayors cover large cities, whose economic underperformance is a key reason for the country’s lack of growth. For example, most of them have productivity below the national average.
This has always been the case nationally, but this is increasingly so locally. Thanks to devolution, we now have CAs with an interest in these data and potentially the capacity to act on them.
Accurate local data should be at the front of the ONS's ongoing reforms.
Accurate local data should be at the front of the ONS's ongoing reforms.
December 2, 2025 at 3:56 PM
This has always been the case nationally, but this is increasingly so locally. Thanks to devolution, we now have CAs with an interest in these data and potentially the capacity to act on them.
Accurate local data should be at the front of the ONS's ongoing reforms.
Accurate local data should be at the front of the ONS's ongoing reforms.
Simply put, it matters nationally that London may be going through a productivity decline. And it matters nationally that some long-underperforming large cities seem to be showing signs of growth.
Policymakers at all levels need these data to make decisions on devolution, urban transport, etc.
Policymakers at all levels need these data to make decisions on devolution, urban transport, etc.
December 2, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Simply put, it matters nationally that London may be going through a productivity decline. And it matters nationally that some long-underperforming large cities seem to be showing signs of growth.
Policymakers at all levels need these data to make decisions on devolution, urban transport, etc.
Policymakers at all levels need these data to make decisions on devolution, urban transport, etc.
In all fairness, the ONS would probably keep or find a substitute for APS, and reforms around data quality are rightly needed.
But the more important point is that local data and their quality should be valued in this process. They cannot just be an afterthought to national data.
But the more important point is that local data and their quality should be valued in this process. They cannot just be an afterthought to national data.
December 2, 2025 at 3:52 PM
In all fairness, the ONS would probably keep or find a substitute for APS, and reforms around data quality are rightly needed.
But the more important point is that local data and their quality should be valued in this process. They cannot just be an afterthought to national data.
But the more important point is that local data and their quality should be valued in this process. They cannot just be an afterthought to national data.
Among those at risk is the APS. We previously highlighted some potential issues with APS’s self-employment data and its impact on productivity. But removing it would not solve the problem: it just makes it even harder to spot (especially since no other datasets count local self-employment).
December 2, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Among those at risk is the APS. We previously highlighted some potential issues with APS’s self-employment data and its impact on productivity. But removing it would not solve the problem: it just makes it even harder to spot (especially since no other datasets count local self-employment).
A bit late but really loved this. Think a lot of people r essentially organizing themselves by their opposition to liberalism rather than left/right. We have been late to recognize that fault line.
An alliance among liberal left is long overdue. Would love to see that emerging.
An alliance among liberal left is long overdue. Would love to see that emerging.
November 21, 2025 at 9:43 AM
A bit late but really loved this. Think a lot of people r essentially organizing themselves by their opposition to liberalism rather than left/right. We have been late to recognize that fault line.
An alliance among liberal left is long overdue. Would love to see that emerging.
An alliance among liberal left is long overdue. Would love to see that emerging.
So, in no way am I the worst affected, but… shocking that they have not thought about earning potential over life time. This would basically make it very hard for young professionals to settle.
November 20, 2025 at 1:55 PM
So, in no way am I the worst affected, but… shocking that they have not thought about earning potential over life time. This would basically make it very hard for young professionals to settle.
Fair to say many of their issues are not their own doing. But a few things are.
For example, I find their decision last week to cancel a lot of local data hard to justify. We are in the middle of devolution, so not the time to fly blind on local economy.
(Also it makes my work more difficult.)
For example, I find their decision last week to cancel a lot of local data hard to justify. We are in the middle of devolution, so not the time to fly blind on local economy.
(Also it makes my work more difficult.)
November 18, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Fair to say many of their issues are not their own doing. But a few things are.
For example, I find their decision last week to cancel a lot of local data hard to justify. We are in the middle of devolution, so not the time to fly blind on local economy.
(Also it makes my work more difficult.)
For example, I find their decision last week to cancel a lot of local data hard to justify. We are in the middle of devolution, so not the time to fly blind on local economy.
(Also it makes my work more difficult.)
Not just national. The local data quality is also not ideal. And their response was to cancel a bunch of them.
We finally have devolved governments who can act upon local data, and the ONS decided now to pull the plug on said data.
Will be an issue for devolution going forward.
We finally have devolved governments who can act upon local data, and the ONS decided now to pull the plug on said data.
Will be an issue for devolution going forward.
November 18, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Not just national. The local data quality is also not ideal. And their response was to cancel a bunch of them.
We finally have devolved governments who can act upon local data, and the ONS decided now to pull the plug on said data.
Will be an issue for devolution going forward.
We finally have devolved governments who can act upon local data, and the ONS decided now to pull the plug on said data.
Will be an issue for devolution going forward.
Just want to say I am in a similar situation and headspace, so u r not alone. One hopes all will eventually be alright
November 18, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Just want to say I am in a similar situation and headspace, so u r not alone. One hopes all will eventually be alright