The recent City Deals, in which powers were devolved to major cities, is just the start. The Government must do more to let go of central policies and funding streams, says Stuart Thomson.
The growth of urban areas is a worldwide phenomenon but the recent publication of figures from the 2011 census showed the largest increase in the population of England and Wales since records began in 1801. The population of the UK is on course to reach over 73 million by 2035.
While our population is currently growing at around 7%, London is growing at almost twice that rate, at 12%. Coping with over 10 million more people will clearly affect all forms of infrastructure, not least transport. This needs to be planned for now.