Northern centres rise in '˜vitality' rankings, but south dominates

SEVEN Yorkshire centres have improved their rankings in a key measure of economic prosperity.
Hull has a programme of events to mark its year as UK City of CultureHull has a programme of events to mark its year as UK City of Culture
Hull has a programme of events to mark its year as UK City of Culture

York, Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Hull, Rotherham and Wakefield were weighted according to productivity, growth, education, enterprise, environment and affluence.

York saw the biggest growth, from 40th to 28th place in the 2017 “vitality index” compiled by property consultant Lambert Smith Hampton.

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The list remains dominated by cities further south, with Cambridge named top-ranking location for the second year running, followed by Guildford. Among northern centres, only Manchester and Edinburgh made the top ten.

Leeds, which rose nine places, was rated 51st on the overall list. However, in the individual categories, Bradford and Hull emerged as the UK’s fourth and fifth greenest cities, a factor the report’s authors attributed partly to Hull’s programme of events as UK City of Culture for 2017.

Rotherham and Wakefield each rose two places in the list of most entrepreneurial locations, and Sheffield rose ten places in the list of most productive cities.

York was rated the sixth best educated centre in Britain.

Matthew Scrimshaw, head of Lambert Smith Hampton’s north region, said: “Having a quality environment in which to live and work is key to attracting and retaining the best talent.

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“As the North seeks to capitalise on corporate relocations from London as a result of the capital’s property costs, economic indicators such as our Vitality Index will become increasingly crucial in the decision-making process, and we are delighted to see Yorkshire’s towns and cities rising up the ranks.”