‘On the up’ Warrington shines in survey of improved towns

Dec 10 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

WARRINGTON was among those described as “on the up” in new research which says half of the UK’s most improved cities for jobs growth are in the North of England.

But the key report by the Centre for Cities said many still have below average employment rates.

The study of 56 towns and cities revealed “worrying economic inequalities” across the UK with some large areas known for their shiny new buildings being the most unequal.

Research group Centre for Cities said some northern places such as Doncaster and Sunderland still had employment rates “considerably” below the national average.

Sunderland ranked almost bottom with 31% of the population not in work, 5% above the national average.

Milton Keynes topped a list of cities enjoying the strongest employment growth in the past decade, followed by Portsmouth, Brighton, Derby and Southampton.

In Manchester, 35% of the working age population were not employed, compared with a figure of 20% in nearby Stockport.

While city centres have been physically transformed and regenerated, the researchers said “entrenched” pockets of worklessness and under-performing housing markets remain.

Dermot Finch, director of Centre for Cities, said: “These figures show that it’s less ‘grim up north’. Places like Warrington and Doncaster are on the up, but need to sustain this momentum over many years if they are going to catch up with the likes of York and Milton Keynes.”