LED Confidential
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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
Website:
www.ledconfidential.co.uk
108 Episodes
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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.
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 are catalysts for regional equity and opportunity. If you care about inclusive growth, urban redevelopment, and the future of innovation policy, this is an essential listen.
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 future of local growth.
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 this a generational mission—or just another commuter belt upgrade?
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 practice, Alex gives his expert take on the potential of water companies as anchor institutions, the impact of ownership models, and the urgent need for strategic regional planning. From smart canals in Glasgow to wetlands in Norfolk, this episode reveals how water can be a catalyst for prosperity—if we’re bold enough to rethink how we plan and collaborate.Independent Water Commission Review of the sector in England and Wales
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
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 the LEDC website: Bonus materials | LED Confidential
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? What does it mean for the future of devolved government in the country? Tune in to learn more!Access bonus material for this and other episodes over at the LEDC website: Bonus materials | LED Confidential
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 devolved ambitions might (or might not) come together. Can Pride In Place deliver more than just pockets of progress? Tune in to learn more!Access bonus materials for this and other episodes over at the LEDC website: Bonus materials | LED Confidential
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, multiculturalism, the importance of the everyday economy, and a call for long term vision in both national and local policy.John Denham's Substack: https://nationstateandpolitics.substack.com/
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 support people into work?
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 void, LEDC unpacks how practitioners are navigating uncertainty, rebuilding strategy from the ground up, and finding opportunity in hyper-localism.
In this Espresso Shot episode, David and Mike return from the 2025 summer break to unpack the major shake-up at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). With Angela Rayner’s resignation and a new ministerial team in place, they explore what these changes could mean for local economic development and placemaking in the UK. What impact will new appointments like Steve Reed and Miatta Fahnbulleh have on housing, planning, and devolution agendas? And how can local leaders and practitioners influence policy and delivery as the sector enters a critical phase of reform? Tune in for expert insights and practical reflections on the evolving landscape.Bonus Biscotti Briefing on this topic available for download here on the LEDC website: https://www.ledconfidential.co.uk/post/what-do-the-major-changes-at-mhclg-mean-for-uk-led-and-placemaking
What inspires transformation when the policy treadmill slows? And how can science fiction, cinema, and Nokia guide your next move?
Can NHS reform be a catalyst for local economic renewal? Or will institutional churn stall the promise of community health?
In this episode, David and Mike are joined by Paul Swinney to explore the UK’s new industrial strategy. They ask: does it finally embrace a place-based model of economic development? And can it tackle the UK’s long-standing productivity challenge? From sectoral strengths and urban clustering to Freeports, fiscal devolution and the role of universities, this wide-ranging conversation challenges conventional thinking and offers a grounded take on what local leaders should do next.
Can the UK finally overcome its infrastructure inertia? Or will local leaders be eft without the resources they need to deliver much-needed projects?
In this Espresso Shot episode, David and Mike explore whether happiness rankings and well-being metrics have any real value in local economic development and placemaking. They ask: are these measures meaningful tools for policy—or just headline fodder? And if happiness does matter, how should it be measured and used by LED professionals?
In this episode, David and Mike are joined by Professor Kevin Morgan to explore the foundational economy—what it is, why it matters, and how it’s reshaping local economic development. They ask: how can food systems, especially public sector food provisioning, become a catalyst for community wealth and well-being? And what can the Welsh experience teach us about embedding foundational principles into policy and practice? From school meals to multi-level governance, this conversation challenges conventional growth models and offers a fresh take on place-based strategy.
In this Espresso Shot episode, David and Mike explore the economic implications of flooding and water scarcity. They ask: are water-related risks a barrier to growth or a strategic opportunity for innovation and regeneration? From smart water management and wetland restoration to the blue green economy and new demands from the infrastructure powering AI, they unpack how water intersects with local economic development and placemaking.
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