Pickles: Top-down prescription didn’t work

Communities secretary, Eric Pickles makes a statement on the unveiling of the government plans for local enterprise partnerships:

“Over the last decade, the country’s economy became skewed by artificial boundaries and top-down prescription that did not work.

“We want to create a fairer and more balanced economy driven by private sector strength, and our plan for local growth will create local enterprise partnerships, reform the planning system and introduce development incentives for local authorities, like allowing them to keep their business rates, so all parts of the country benefit.

“I am delighted that we can announce today the first 24 local enterprise partnerships to be given the go ahead. Our vision for local enterprise partnerships will help transform the economic geography of the country by creating a new local dynamism that will encourage economic growth and protect business with proper local accountability.”