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PODCAST

LED Confidential

LED Confidential

Podcast about local economic development and placemaking. Co-hosted by Mike Spicer of PolicyDepartment and David Marlow of Third Life Economics. Mike, David and guests address the divisive, often unspoken issues facing economic development professionals in 2020s Britain. Website: www.ledconfidential.co.uk

government

All Episodes

00:12:39

Pride in Place extended - transformation or tactical...

LED Confidential ·

2026/03/05

The UK Government has expanded its Pride in Place (PiP) programme – £20m over 10 years for each selected neighbourhood, with local boards deciding how to spend it on high streets, youth centres, community spaces and events. At the same time, the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (ICON) warns that current approaches are too small‑scale and partial to turn around outcomes like crime and economic inactivity by 2030. In this Espresso Shot, David and Mike explore what the PiP extension really

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00:14:28

English local government’s perfect storm: what it...

LED Confidential ·

2026/02/26

David and Mike unpack the “perfect storm” hitting English local government in early 2026. From the new financial settlement and outcomes framework to 52 reorganisation proposals and reinstated local elections, they explore what this blizzard of change really means for local economic development and placemaking. Is this a moment to despair – or to push for system‑level reform in how Whitehall, local democracy and LED actually work together?

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00:46:41

From rhetoric to regeneration: rebuilding England’s...

LED Confidential ·

2026/02/19

What's blocking regional rebalancing and regeneration in England, and could new institutions tackle the north-south divide? In this episode, David and Mike are joined by Peter Hetherington – one of the UK’s most respected commentators on regional affairs, land use and the north south divide. Peter argues that a step‑by‑step dismantling of regional policy has left England without a national regeneration agency, spatial strategy or coherent institutional framework – and he tells LEDC what it would

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00:11:28

The Hallett COVID‑19 Inquiry and local economic...

LED Confidential ·

2026/02/12

Six years after the pandemic declaration, the Hallett COVID‑19 Inquiry is uncovering lessons with major implications for local economic development. David and Mike discuss enduring economic scarring, deepened health inequalities, the overlooked importance of social infrastructure, and why future LED strategies must embrace resilience, slack and the agency of hyper‑local communities. A sharp 10‑minute dive into what the Inquiry means for placemaking in 2026.

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00:13:10

How England’s new Visitor Levy could reshape local...

LED Confidential ·

2026/02/05

What should England’s new Visitor Levy really be used for — growing the visitor economy, boosting wellbeing, or redistributing tourism across Combined Authority areas? David and Mike unpack the Government’s 72‑page consultation, explore why England’s opt‑in model is unusual when compared to those operating in elsewhere in Europe, and discuss how varying charge levels, lobbying pressures and sub‑regional governance could shape local economic development.

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00:11:38

Greenland, geopolitics and local economic development...

LED Confidential ·

2026/01/29

As US–Europe tensions over Greenland flare and then cool (for now), David and Mike ask what this kind of geopolitical dispute really means for local economic development. They unpack how tariff threats, critical minerals, energy security and defence policy filter down into business confidence, inward investment, and local growth plans – and why LED professionals need to move from static strategies to live scenario planning that reflects an increasingly uncertain trading environment.

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00:40:30

Inclusive growth meets global trade: inside...

LED Confidential ·

2026/01/16

What does it take to turn a 50km stretch of Scotland’s Firth of Forth into a hub for sustainable growth? CEO Sarah Murray gives LEDC the inside track on the Forth Green Freeport. From unlocking £8 billion in investment and creating 34,000 jobs to embedding fair work and Net Zero principles, the Scottish Green Freeport model promises economic, social, and environmental transformation on a grand scale. But how do you balance global capital with local benefit? How do you curate investment, manage

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00:11:56

Crystal ball for 2026: place, pride, and big bets on...

LED Confidential ·

2026/01/02

2026 could be a year of big moves—or big misses for economic development. In this Espresso Shot episode, David and Mike share their predictions on placemaking, local growth, and the infrastructure bets that could make or break business confidence.

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00:13:48

2025 in review: devolution, the Reform Party, and the...

LED Confidential ·

2025/12/22

2025 was a year of contrasts for local economic development in the UK: progress on devolution, persistent financial fragility, and political shake-ups. In this Espresso Shot episode David and Mike look back at the stories that mattered—and what they mean for the sector in the year ahead.

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00:43:30

Innovation Districts 2.0: making growth inclusive

LED Confidential ·

2025/12/15

Innovation districts have become a cornerstone of urban economic development—but are they truly inclusive? In this episode, David and Mike talk to Dr. Michael Glass of theUniversity of Pittsburgh about the next generation of innovation districts: ID 2.0. Drawing on international comparative research across four cities—Pittsburgh, Medellín,Newcastle, and Belfast—Michael explains how leadership, community engagement, and governance can ensure these don't become inward-looking enclaves but instead

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00:26:43

UK Budget 2025: is fiscal devolution finally here?

LED Confidential ·

2025/12/01

The UK Government’s Autumn 2025 Budget promises big changes for local economic development—but will they deliver? In this episode, David and Mike dive into the details behind the expansion of Integrated Settlements, new overnight visitor levies, Business Rate Retention Zones and more. What of the growing gap between the powers and funding available to Mayoral Strategic Authorities and non non-mayoral areas in England? Tune in for a sharp analysis of what Budget 2025 means for place-making and the

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00:11:42

Can the Oxford-Cambridge corridor become Europe’s...

LED Confidential ·

2025/11/24

In this Espresso Shot episode, David and Mike unpack the UKGovernment’s £500m investment in the Oxford-Cambridge corridor. With ambitions to create “Europe’s Silicon Valley,” the episode explores whether this mix of public and private investment, statutory development corporations, and transport infrastructure is a one-off or a replicable model for other UK growth corridors. They also reflect on the political complexities, the role of local governance, and the importance of inclusive innovation. Is

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00:49:43

Liquid assets: rethinking water’s role in economic...

LED Confidential ·

2025/11/17

In this special guest episode, LED Confidential welcomes Alex Plant, CEO of Scottish Water, for a deep dive into the role of water utilities in local economic development. With £110 billion of investment planned across the UK over the next five years, Alex shares insights on how water infrastructure can unlock housing, attract inward investment, and support climate adaptation through nature-based solutions and blue-green infrastructure.Drawing on experiences from Scotland, England, and global best

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00:11:29

Rethinking post-16 education for local economies in...

LED Confidential ·

2025/11/13

Is the UK’s new Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper a game-changer—or just more policy noise? Mike and David explore the future of vocational qualifications, civic colleges, and adult learning in this Espresso Shot. Listen now for a fast paced take on what it means for local economic development and local skills improvement plans.Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper

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00:11:29

New Towns, new rules: reimagining growth for the 2030s?

LED Confidential ·

2025/10/28

In this Espresso Shot episode David and Mike take a closer look at the New Towns Taskforce Final Report—commissioned by the UK Government. With 12 sites proposed and Development Corporations to lead delivery, the episode explores how this new wave of towns reframes post-war policy for today’s challenges. What does it all mean for the future of housing delivery, infrastructure, and economic development in the country? Tune in to learn more!Access bonus materials for this and other episodes over at

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00:09:42

Reorganising Local Government in England: 17...

LED Confidential ·

2025/10/22

In this Espresso Shot episode, David and Mike dive into the September 2025 submissions for new unitary councils from Devolution Priority Programme areas in England—Norfolk, Suffolk, Greater Essex, Greater Sussex, Hampshire and Solent—and the 17 unitary proposals they’ve produced. With population sizes ranging from 146,000 to over 900,000, and council tax politics fueling local tensions, what does this wave of reorganisation mean for local economic development, placemaking and sector professionals

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00:12:11

Pride In Place Programme: promise or patchwork?

LED Confidential ·

2025/10/15

In this Espresso Shot episode, David and Mike look at the UK Government's new Pride in Place strategy and funding programme—a £5 billion commitment to hyper-local economic development across hundreds of 'doubly disadvantaged' neighbourhoods. Is this a genuine shift towards community-led renewal, or just another fragmented initiative from the centre They revisit insights from previous episodes with John Denham and John Houghton, exploring how neighbourhood boards, capital funds, and

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00:42:26

Total Place 2.0 and the politics of belonging

LED Confidential ·

2025/10/06

David and Mike are joined by John Denham—former UK Government Minister and present Director of the Centre for English Identity and Politics—to unpack the rise of English identity politics and its limplications for place-based inclusive growth in the country. From the imitations of current devolution strategies to the transformative potential of Total Place 2.0, LEDC explores how local leaders can build cohesive communities in an era of fragmentation. Expect insights on neighbourhood governance,

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00:11:53

Is economic inactivity now the UK's biggest growth...

LED Confidential ·

2025/09/26

In this episode David and Mike unpack the demographic shifts reshaping local economies. From the Bank of England’s warning on economic inactivity to the ONS’s mid-year population estimates and the so-called fertility crisis, the data paints a complex picture of ageing populations, challenges of out-migration in places, and worryingly low rates of labour market participation. How might transport policy, spatial planning, and extending access to further education reverse economic decline and better

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00:12:02

Political instability, organisational churn, and the...

LED Confidential ·

2025/09/22

In this Espresso Shot episode, David and Mike explore the growing political instability reshaping local economic development and placemaking in the UK. With the Reform Party gaining ground, over 40% of English councils now in no overall control, and local government distracted by the looming reorganisation, what does this mean for forward planning, community cohesion, and officer-led decision making? From the Royal Geographical Society’s reflections to grassroots business networks stepping into the

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115 results

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