In the former coalfields of North Yorkshire is a story of how to actually level us up

Deputy Director Adam Hawksbee writes his City AM column about a recent example in North Yorkshire about how to level up effectively. He writes:

“The last deep coal mine in Britain closed in Kellingley, North Yorkshire, eight years ago. In the place of the former colliery that once employed thousands are just 11 nondescript industrial units next to a small car park. But this unassuming site is quietly driving the area’s regeneration. These units, operated by an offshoot of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, generate £4m each year by leasing space to small businesses. Every penny of pre-tax profit goes back into regeneration – supporting dozens of local grassroot groups and delivering programmes to hundreds of residents in nearby Knottingley that tackle obesity, treat mental health issues, and increase employability.

This site, and the model it underpins, represents a path to securing a legacy for levelling up. Too often the government’s flagship economic agenda to support left behind places, first espoused by Boris Johnson in 2019, has been characterised by competitive funds and centralised pots. Criticisms from both the left and right have focussed on a “begging bowl culture” – an emphasis on handouts instead of a hand up. This project in the coalfields points to a different path: locally-rooted institutions with financial independence and real autonomy. “

You can read the full article here.