Bournemouth one of handful of "cities" driving economy, says report

The Centre for Cities group 2015 outlook report says the gap between Britain's best and worst-performing cities has ''dramatically widened'' over the past decade, with national economic growth driven by only a handful of cities, mainly in the South.

Read the report for yourself

For every 12 jobs created since 2004 in cities in southern England, only one was created in cities in the rest of the country, research found.

Bournemouth is fifth in the table with a 10% growth in jobs between 2004 and 2015. It is also tenth in the table for number of businesses, with 345.5 businesses for every 10,000 people. The proportion of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance is one of the lowest too, at 1.3% - the ninth lowest, according to the study.

We also score highly for education, with just 6.5% of the working population considered to have no formal qualifications, again the ninth best in the country. We have the tenth lowest Co2 emissions per capita and the fifth best broadband speed. 

But while it's good news for Bournemouth, it's not so great for cities in the north of Britain.

Andrew Carter, acting chief executive of Centre for Cities, said: ''Five months out from the election, this report makes the strongest economic case yet for the next Government to step up to the challenge of investing in the long-term success of our cities, and build a brighter future in which more people and places can contribute to, and share in, prosperity and growth.

 ''The stark picture the report paints of the enormous gap in the fortunes of UK cities over 10 years underlines why a 'steady as she goes' approach must be scrapped.

 ''We must move from thinking that bundling up new funding streams with bureaucratic delays, or simply tinkering around the edges with well-intentioned announcements, will be enough to reverse trends that are becoming increasingly entrenched.''

 Ed Cox, director of IPPR North, said more powers needed to be devolved to regions to help them create prosperity and ensure smaller places do not fall behind as core cities grow.

 Cities Minister Greg Clark, said: ''This Government's long-term economic plan is working right across the country.

 ''Since 2010 over 60% of the rise in employment has taken place outside London and the South East - that's over a million more people in work. We know there is more to do and that's why we have given greater powers to 27 of the UK's largest cities through City Deals, and why we have committed a further £7 billion to the north of England, alongside the ground-breaking devolution deals and £6 billion of Growth Deals in every part of England.''

 Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said: ''Centre for Cities' 2015 Cities Outlook highlights the huge potential for more balanced growth across Britain by devolving powers and budgets.

 ''The Tory-led Government came to office promising to rebalance the economy but instead we've seen too many parts of Britain held back and the benefits of growth being concentrated in the hands of the few.
 ''Under this Government, cities with the greatest needs have been hit hardest.

 ''The next Labour government will push power away from Whitehall and give city and county regions and local areas the powers they need to boost local growth.

 ''Under our plans £30bn of budgets would be devolved down and combined authorities would be able to keep more of their revenue from business rates so they can benefit from additional growth.''

Growth of the number of jobs in cities, 2004-2013

10 cities with highest jobs growth (% change)

1.  Milton Keynes (18.2%)
2.  London (17.1%)
3. Cambridge (15.7%)
4. Brighton (11.1%)
5. Bournemouth (10.0%)
6. Portsmouth (9.2%)
7.  Coventry (8.4%)
8. Newcastle (8.0%)
9.  Aberdeen (7.9%)
10.  Nottingham (7.7%)
11.  

10 cities with lowest jobs growth (% change)

63: Gloucester (-12.6%)

62: Rochdale (-12.2%)

61: Blackpool (-10.9%)

60: Newport (-8.6%)

59: Hull (-7.9%)

58: Grimsby (-7.3%)

57: Huddersfield (-6.7%)

56: Swindon (-6.5%)

55: Wigan (-5.7%)

54: Burnley (-4.7%)

Source: Centre for Cities

(Note: the report uses the word city as shorthand for Primary Urban Area, the city-level definition used by the government in its State of the Cities Report. The PUA referred to as Bournemouth encompasses Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.)