Small and medium cities are driving Northern growth and need to be better considered in regional economies

A new paper from IPPR North, City Systems,  argues for a more sophisticated understanding of the urban system in the North of England. It acknowledges the vital role that the big cities must play in driving northern prosperity, but makes recommendations for a more coherent and comprehensive approach to regional economic strategy that gives greater attention to the complementary strengths of small and medium-sized towns and cities.

The north of England’s big cities have thus far been...