Big Local partnerships often focused on economic development activity. Traditionally, central and local government-led neighbourhood regeneration policy has been associated with the promotion of economic outcomes. However, the Big Local programme was significantly different in that, while also being resident-led, it did not have specific economic aims. It was also applied to hyper local areas, whereas most economic development policy has been applied to larger spatial areas.
It was clear from the priorities in plans and activities of Big Local areas that residents chose to use their funding to develop their local economies. While not generally framed as economic development by residents, these efforts were characterised by the use of local knowledge and the commitment of residents to improve their areas.
Big Local areas were some of the most disadvantaged areas in England, and they faced economic challenges in a variety of ways. The austerity period of government policy, the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis all shaped the economic context of Big Local,. Many partnerships delivered projects to provide the immediate support needed during these crises, while many also worked to support local businesses and entrepreneurs, developing the skills and job prospects of residents.
The Big Local research programme did not set out to evaluate economic outcomes, though some studies noted related activity and effects. Instead, an article series on economic development in Big Local areas uses a ‘capitals’ approach to explore community wealth building. It looks at investments in various forms of capital, such as financial and social, that lay the foundations for economic activity, regeneration, and local resilience.
A series of research articles exploring how Big Local areas developed their local economies, looking at different types of capital – social, financial, physical, human, and institutional.