Category: Thought leadership

For almost every area, the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) decisions are now in. As always, when big changes are made by the UK Government, some people will have met the announcement with delight, while others will be bitterly disappointed. Whether you were dancing in your office chair or had your head in your hands, the […]

Michael O’Doherty introduces a new webinar series exploring the enablers of successful council-led housebuilding from Local Partnerships and the Local Government Association Housebuilding is front of mind for the current government, but for councils, the pressure to deliver social and affordable homes has never really left. Rising demand, issues of housing quality and widening inequality […]

Devolution will not succeed on legislation and structure alone. It will succeed, or fail, on whether institutions are ready.  “Everything in its right place: establishing strong organisations and practices for successful devolution” is a new research project, undertaken by Localis and Local Partnerships, aiming to understand how combined authorities have evolved and should continue evolving in the future.  The report highlights that greater autonomy will […]

When councils change hands, what happens to national delivery? Adele Gritten, chief executive of Local Partnerships, looks at how local election results can reset priorities and create both risks and opportunities for government As newly elected members take their seats across England, there is a sense of energy and opportunity in local government. New ideas […]

The announcement of the Secretary of State’s decisions in four of the six Devolution Priority Programme (DPP) areas marks a turning point for some authorities, and continued uncertainty for others. Whether you now have a defined direction or are still awaiting a decision, the focus should be on what comes next and how to move […]

At Local Partnerships, delivering value and efficacy for the public purse is our strapline and our purpose. Everything we do is designed to help the public sector make good decisions, invest wisely, and steward resources responsibly for communities across the UK. The Chancellor’s Spring Statement this week offers an important moment to reflect on the economic landscape […]

The UK Government’s Warm Homes Plan marks a step change in the drive to make homes warmer, healthier and more affordable to run. Backed by £15 billion of investment and a commitment to upgrade 5 million homes by 2030, it sets an ambitious direction of travel for housing retrofit in England.  Crucially, the Plan recognises that […]

The UK Government’s Warm Homes Plan, published last week, represents a significant moment in accelerating the action needed to make homes warmer, healthier and more affordable to run.   Backed by £15 billion of investment, the Plan aims to improve and upgrade 5 million homes by 2030. Crucially, it is explicit that success will depend on local leadership, with local authorities, combined authorities and mayors playing a […]

Can we tackle the UK’s housing shortage and improve prisoner rehabilitation at the same time? Prisoners Building Homes (PBH) is an award-winning programme, hosted by Local Partnerships, that is proving we can. This pioneering initiative enables serving and post-release prisoners to build high-quality, low-carbon modular homes for local communities, including affordable housing and homes for […]

The UK faces an acute housing challenge. Demand continues to outstrip supply, with Government setting an ambitious mission to deliver 1.5 million homes over the term of this Parliament. Local authorities play a critical role in meeting this target. We need not only to address housing shortages but also to create sustainable and thriving communities. […]

Last week’s Budget was not just a fiscal statement, but a roadmap for development, resilience and renewal. The announcements reinforce the principles we at Local Partnerships champion: clarity of purpose, empowered local leadership and frameworks that enable long-term delivery. One of the most significant developments is the confirmation of multi-year capital allocations through 2029-30. This certainty is a […]

Research released today finds devolution alone does not guarantee success for local areas, and councils need clarity, coherence and a long-term plan from Government to deliver devolution at scale. The report, from the LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) and Local Partnerships, concludes that a model of governance which improves regional economic outcomes, supports housing growth, tackles […]

New research finds devolution alone does not guarantee success for local areas. Councils need clarity, coherence and a long-term plan from Government to deliver devolution at scale.The report, from the LGIU (Local Government Information Unit), supported by Local Partnerships, concludes that a model of governance which improves regional economic outcomes, supports housing growth, tackles inequality, embeds fiscal sustainability and […]

As local authorities grapple with implementing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), the challenge is no longer about whether reform is necessary, but how to make it work in practice. At Local Partnerships, we believe devolution and LGR should be viewed not as a disruption to be managed, but as an opportunity to strengthen local power. That’s […]

England is entering its most ambitious phase of local government reorganisation (LGR) and devolution in decades. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, introduced in July 2025, sets out a bold vision for streamlined, empowered local governance. But without clear delineation of roles and responsibilities – and without central departments actively enabling clarity – we […]

Adele Gritten says clarifying roles in England’s evolving governance landscape is crucial to avoiding replication and unlocking strategic potential. As England embarks on its most ambitious phase of local government reorganisation (LGR) and devolution in decades, the potential for duplication between nascent, emerging Strategic Authorities and existing Unitary councils is becoming increasingly apparent. The English […]