PlaceCast is a Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Hub production based at City-REDI, University of Birmingham. Our new podcast is essential listening for those keen to explore the ins and outs of knowledge mobilisation for influence in central and local government, based on the view that it’s only through animating the power of place-based leadership that the wicked problems of 2025 can become more manageable.
In the latest episode of Placecast, Nicola Headlam sits down with Dr Charlotte Hoole and Professor Andy Pike for a deep dive into one of the most pressing challenges facing England today: how we allocate public funding and govern economic development across regions. Drawing on extensive experience in subnational governance and policy research, Charlotte and Andy offer sharp insights and grounded expertise in a conversation that’s both timely and urgent.
As England grapples with entrenched geographical inequalities and a fragmented funding landscape, this podcast explores the findings of their recent ESRC-funded project on improving public funding allocation. From reflections on the legacy of regional development structures to lessons from international models like France and Australia, the episode offers a compelling look at what it will take to build a fairer, more effective system of place-based investment.
Guest speakers
Andy Pike is the Henry Daysh Professor of Regional Development Studies in the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS), Newcastle University, UK. His research interests, publications, and research projects focus on the geographical and political economy of local, regional, and urban development and policy. He has undertaken research projects for the OECD, UN-ILO, the European Commission, the UK Government, and national, regional, and local institutions. He is a Fellow of the Regional Studies Association and an elected Fellow of the UK’s national Academy of Social Sciences.
Dr Charlotte Hoole is a Research Fellow at the City-Region Economic Development Institute (City-REDI). Her current research examines regional governance capacity in the context of English devolution and public funding allocation. Before this, she worked on projects looking at the impact of governance structures on the formulation of place-based policies and central-local relations, and their role in shaping regional disparities.
Host
Dr Nicola Headlam has more than 20 years of experience working within all aspects of the multi-helix innovation system; central and local government, civil society and campaigning, academic research and knowledge mobilisation and in industry. Along the way, she has honed expertise in urban and regional subnational economic development, the roles of government in making and shaping place, and in data and evidence for transformation.
In 2024, she became a freelance economic advisor on the role of leadership and partnerships, urban and living lab forms for research, future of cities and foresighting methods, urban transformations, place-branding and urban regeneration and the spatial consequences of public policy.
Key points from the podcast:
Why Funding Reform & Geographical Inequality Matter
- England faces deep-rooted inequalities in productivity, income, health, and education.
- The current funding system is overly centralised, fragmented, and competitive, often disadvantaging areas with lower institutional capacity.
- Recent political changes (new government, Devolution White Paper, consultations) offer a window of opportunity for reform.
Challenges in Governance & Policy
- The regional governance landscape has been unstable, swinging between regional and local structures.
- Combined authorities and local growth plans are emerging, but the system remains uneven and under-resourced.
- There’s a lack of long-term strategy, and frequent institutional churn undermines progress.
Key Principles for Reform
- Emphasis on equity, efficiency, effectiveness, and devolution.
- There is a need for simplification of funding streams and better alignment between national and local priorities.
- Importance of collaboration across governance levels and meaningful resourcing of local institutions.
International Lessons
- France: Fiscal equalisation, long-term state-region contracts, tailored support for smaller towns.
- Australia: Independent oversight via the Commonwealth Grants Commission, and the “Royalties for Regions” program reinvesting mining revenues locally.
Insights on Leadership & Brokerage
- Effective place-based leaders have deep community ties and foster trust.
- Local government officers are praised for their resilience and commitment despite austerity and centralisation.
Transcript
Find out more about the Local Policy Innovation Partnership Hub.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this analysis post are those of the author and not necessarily those of City-REDI or the University of Birmingham.