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How do political instability and gridlock in local government impact economic development and placemaking?

  • Writer: David Marlow
    David Marlow
  • Sep 24
  • 1 min read

The rise in political prominence of Reform and in the number of councils with no overall control (NOC) poses new and different challenges for those working across LED and placemaking. Reform now have directly elected Mayors leading Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authorities (MCAs) and leadership of 18 English local authorities:  8 counties and 10 districts spread across 6 regions. 161 local authorities (just over half the total)  are now in NOC – the highest share for at least 50 years. LEDC unpacks the implications of these trends in the second Espresso Shot episode of September 2025. We ask: how can you deliver effective LED and placemaking amid acute political instability and uncertainty?


Strategies to manage uncertainty, local political gridlock, and the risks of more disruptions in 2026


Download your Biscotti Briefing here, or screenshot the slides below:



Screenshot of page 1 of a briefing on how political instability and gridlock are impacting local economic development and placemaking in the UK, and how professionals in the sector can navigate the changes
Screenshot of page 2 of a briefing on how political instability and gridlock are impacting local economic development and placemaking in the UK, and how professionals in the sector can navigate the changes
Screenshot of page 3 of a briefing on how political instability and gridlock are impacting local economic development and placemaking in the UK, and how professionals in the sector can navigate the changes



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