Sean Canty
@seancanty.bsky.social
Media contact for Centre for Cities. Posts about UK urban policy, what the media are saying about it and what the Government is doing about it.
📌 London
🙋♂️ He/him
📌 London
🙋♂️ He/him
Travelling in Central Europe and I've brought a few books to occupy the train journeys, including 'Against Post-Liberalism' by @pjthinker.bsky.social - decided it could not wait until I got back home.
November 13, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Travelling in Central Europe and I've brought a few books to occupy the train journeys, including 'Against Post-Liberalism' by @pjthinker.bsky.social - decided it could not wait until I got back home.
📈 That light green line is wind energy ramping up overnight.
At 09.35am, Storm Benjamin is generating 40.3 per cent of the National Grid's electric power transmission.
Source: grid.iamkate.com
At 09.35am, Storm Benjamin is generating 40.3 per cent of the National Grid's electric power transmission.
Source: grid.iamkate.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:44 AM
📈 That light green line is wind energy ramping up overnight.
At 09.35am, Storm Benjamin is generating 40.3 per cent of the National Grid's electric power transmission.
Source: grid.iamkate.com
At 09.35am, Storm Benjamin is generating 40.3 per cent of the National Grid's electric power transmission.
Source: grid.iamkate.com
Entertaining review of the new Thatcher centenary document.
Apparently, Rishi Sunak complains that the post-Brexit world is not as in favour of free trade as he expected.
It's a huge day for irony.
www.ft.com/content/7ad4...
Apparently, Rishi Sunak complains that the post-Brexit world is not as in favour of free trade as he expected.
It's a huge day for irony.
www.ft.com/content/7ad4...
October 22, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Entertaining review of the new Thatcher centenary document.
Apparently, Rishi Sunak complains that the post-Brexit world is not as in favour of free trade as he expected.
It's a huge day for irony.
www.ft.com/content/7ad4...
Apparently, Rishi Sunak complains that the post-Brexit world is not as in favour of free trade as he expected.
It's a huge day for irony.
www.ft.com/content/7ad4...
In 2024 it was quicker to get to Central London from parts of Hertfordshire than it was to commute in from the end of Old Kent Road.
Interested to know how the Bakerloop will have changed this.
(Graphic: The Times with Centre for Cities data).
Interested to know how the Bakerloop will have changed this.
(Graphic: The Times with Centre for Cities data).
October 21, 2025 at 10:34 AM
In 2024 it was quicker to get to Central London from parts of Hertfordshire than it was to commute in from the end of Old Kent Road.
Interested to know how the Bakerloop will have changed this.
(Graphic: The Times with Centre for Cities data).
Interested to know how the Bakerloop will have changed this.
(Graphic: The Times with Centre for Cities data).
Based on population by 'primary urban area', Manchester misses out to Birmingham as Britain's second city.
Centre for Cities is hosting an online event next week to show how places compare on productivity growth - that's the key race among big cities.
www.centreforcities.org/event/briefi...
Centre for Cities is hosting an online event next week to show how places compare on productivity growth - that's the key race among big cities.
www.centreforcities.org/event/briefi...
October 8, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Based on population by 'primary urban area', Manchester misses out to Birmingham as Britain's second city.
Centre for Cities is hosting an online event next week to show how places compare on productivity growth - that's the key race among big cities.
www.centreforcities.org/event/briefi...
Centre for Cities is hosting an online event next week to show how places compare on productivity growth - that's the key race among big cities.
www.centreforcities.org/event/briefi...
Homes are unaffordable in big cities and across the South East because of housing shortages.
Brits make big sacrifices to afford a home, the New Towns Taskforce says.
So, what role will New Towns have in housebuilding? Centre for Cities' discusses next week:
www.centreforcities.org/event/centre...
Brits make big sacrifices to afford a home, the New Towns Taskforce says.
So, what role will New Towns have in housebuilding? Centre for Cities' discusses next week:
www.centreforcities.org/event/centre...
October 3, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Homes are unaffordable in big cities and across the South East because of housing shortages.
Brits make big sacrifices to afford a home, the New Towns Taskforce says.
So, what role will New Towns have in housebuilding? Centre for Cities' discusses next week:
www.centreforcities.org/event/centre...
Brits make big sacrifices to afford a home, the New Towns Taskforce says.
So, what role will New Towns have in housebuilding? Centre for Cities' discusses next week:
www.centreforcities.org/event/centre...
Regions of the UK vary hugely on pay and affluence but that difference is explained by the variation in cities.
Average weekly workplace wages vary much more in urban areas of the UK than in rural ones.
Source: Cities Outlook 2025 👇
www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
Average weekly workplace wages vary much more in urban areas of the UK than in rural ones.
Source: Cities Outlook 2025 👇
www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
September 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Regions of the UK vary hugely on pay and affluence but that difference is explained by the variation in cities.
Average weekly workplace wages vary much more in urban areas of the UK than in rural ones.
Source: Cities Outlook 2025 👇
www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
Average weekly workplace wages vary much more in urban areas of the UK than in rural ones.
Source: Cities Outlook 2025 👇
www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
🚌🚴♀️🚋 CAR FREE POST #WorldCarFreeDay
Did you know large UK cities have lower shares of commuting by public transport than their international peers?
TfL-style integrated transport, better planning and implementing road pricing could change that.
Read more 👇
www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
Did you know large UK cities have lower shares of commuting by public transport than their international peers?
TfL-style integrated transport, better planning and implementing road pricing could change that.
Read more 👇
www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
September 22, 2025 at 10:02 AM
🚌🚴♀️🚋 CAR FREE POST #WorldCarFreeDay
Did you know large UK cities have lower shares of commuting by public transport than their international peers?
TfL-style integrated transport, better planning and implementing road pricing could change that.
Read more 👇
www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
Did you know large UK cities have lower shares of commuting by public transport than their international peers?
TfL-style integrated transport, better planning and implementing road pricing could change that.
Read more 👇
www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
me looking at the charts in this story
August 21, 2025 at 11:45 AM
me looking at the charts in this story
It's Tuesday 12 August - better known as Mackem Day.
Sunderland is blazing a trail for city-centre regeneration for places struggling with lots of empty shops 🌆
www.itv.com/watch/news/s...
Sunderland is blazing a trail for city-centre regeneration for places struggling with lots of empty shops 🌆
www.itv.com/watch/news/s...
August 12, 2025 at 11:06 AM
It's Tuesday 12 August - better known as Mackem Day.
Sunderland is blazing a trail for city-centre regeneration for places struggling with lots of empty shops 🌆
www.itv.com/watch/news/s...
Sunderland is blazing a trail for city-centre regeneration for places struggling with lots of empty shops 🌆
www.itv.com/watch/news/s...
Sunday Express reheated the 'Gen Z are going to church more' story.
But it's a numbers story and there's issues with SPCK and Bible Society data 👇
theconversation.com/is-there-rea...
Rises in bible sales were by value, not by volume. And the 'Quiet Revival' church attendance data has holes.
But it's a numbers story and there's issues with SPCK and Bible Society data 👇
theconversation.com/is-there-rea...
Rises in bible sales were by value, not by volume. And the 'Quiet Revival' church attendance data has holes.
July 28, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Sunday Express reheated the 'Gen Z are going to church more' story.
But it's a numbers story and there's issues with SPCK and Bible Society data 👇
theconversation.com/is-there-rea...
Rises in bible sales were by value, not by volume. And the 'Quiet Revival' church attendance data has holes.
But it's a numbers story and there's issues with SPCK and Bible Society data 👇
theconversation.com/is-there-rea...
Rises in bible sales were by value, not by volume. And the 'Quiet Revival' church attendance data has holes.
Improving regional productivity is about a better quality of life everywhere in the UK and not about eroding London's.
Centre for Cities' key insight is that urban areas - not rural ones - are generating the productivity lag.
Chi Onwurah's argument is well made here 👇
www.ft.com/content/393e...
Centre for Cities' key insight is that urban areas - not rural ones - are generating the productivity lag.
Chi Onwurah's argument is well made here 👇
www.ft.com/content/393e...
July 28, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Improving regional productivity is about a better quality of life everywhere in the UK and not about eroding London's.
Centre for Cities' key insight is that urban areas - not rural ones - are generating the productivity lag.
Chi Onwurah's argument is well made here 👇
www.ft.com/content/393e...
Centre for Cities' key insight is that urban areas - not rural ones - are generating the productivity lag.
Chi Onwurah's argument is well made here 👇
www.ft.com/content/393e...
The Government says it is adopting a services-focused trade strategy to tariff-proof UK prosperity.
There's plenty of room for growth in services and much of that could be to the benefit of big cities outside of London and the Greater South East.
www.centreforcities.org/blog/how-muc...
There's plenty of room for growth in services and much of that could be to the benefit of big cities outside of London and the Greater South East.
www.centreforcities.org/blog/how-muc...
June 26, 2025 at 10:54 AM
The Government says it is adopting a services-focused trade strategy to tariff-proof UK prosperity.
There's plenty of room for growth in services and much of that could be to the benefit of big cities outside of London and the Greater South East.
www.centreforcities.org/blog/how-muc...
There's plenty of room for growth in services and much of that could be to the benefit of big cities outside of London and the Greater South East.
www.centreforcities.org/blog/how-muc...
And pivoting to manufacturing on a "resilience" basis can be self-defeating. Building up stocks is preferable to home-grown goods.
See also @benchu.bsky.social's excellent new book 'Exile Economics' on the myths around "self-reliance".
See also @benchu.bsky.social's excellent new book 'Exile Economics' on the myths around "self-reliance".
June 15, 2025 at 12:15 PM
And pivoting to manufacturing on a "resilience" basis can be self-defeating. Building up stocks is preferable to home-grown goods.
See also @benchu.bsky.social's excellent new book 'Exile Economics' on the myths around "self-reliance".
See also @benchu.bsky.social's excellent new book 'Exile Economics' on the myths around "self-reliance".
Well what do you know
June 11, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Well what do you know
The erudite British Academy looked at 100 years of regional policy - a big undertaking for one policy briefing.
But only a London institution could be this London-sceptic...
Most G7 countries have an economic capital. The UK's problem isn't London-centrism; it is its underperforming second cities.
But only a London institution could be this London-sceptic...
Most G7 countries have an economic capital. The UK's problem isn't London-centrism; it is its underperforming second cities.
June 10, 2025 at 10:31 PM
The erudite British Academy looked at 100 years of regional policy - a big undertaking for one policy briefing.
But only a London institution could be this London-sceptic...
Most G7 countries have an economic capital. The UK's problem isn't London-centrism; it is its underperforming second cities.
But only a London institution could be this London-sceptic...
Most G7 countries have an economic capital. The UK's problem isn't London-centrism; it is its underperforming second cities.
City centres have lots of high-quality office space and access to large high-skilled labour pools via large local public transport networks.
These qualities attract above-average numbers of cutting-edge firms to a local area.
www.centreforcities.org/press/innova...
These qualities attract above-average numbers of cutting-edge firms to a local area.
www.centreforcities.org/press/innova...
June 10, 2025 at 5:01 PM
City centres have lots of high-quality office space and access to large high-skilled labour pools via large local public transport networks.
These qualities attract above-average numbers of cutting-edge firms to a local area.
www.centreforcities.org/press/innova...
These qualities attract above-average numbers of cutting-edge firms to a local area.
www.centreforcities.org/press/innova...
In total, 87 per cent of clustered new economy firms are in cities and large towns; over half of these are in city centres. www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
June 10, 2025 at 5:01 PM
In total, 87 per cent of clustered new economy firms are in cities and large towns; over half of these are in city centres. www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
Big cities' export bases are smaller than they should be, with relatively low services exports in particular compared to London.
Adapting their city centres to meet the global demand for cutting-edge services is their chance to earn higher wages.
www.centreforcities.org/blog/how-muc...
Adapting their city centres to meet the global demand for cutting-edge services is their chance to earn higher wages.
www.centreforcities.org/blog/how-muc...
June 6, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Big cities' export bases are smaller than they should be, with relatively low services exports in particular compared to London.
Adapting their city centres to meet the global demand for cutting-edge services is their chance to earn higher wages.
www.centreforcities.org/blog/how-muc...
Adapting their city centres to meet the global demand for cutting-edge services is their chance to earn higher wages.
www.centreforcities.org/blog/how-muc...
The main focus should be on the biggest cities.
The Mayor of London launched an ambitious growth plan for the capital.
And as 'second cities', Manchester, Birmingham and other big cities can make a much bigger contribution to the national economy.
www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
The Mayor of London launched an ambitious growth plan for the capital.
And as 'second cities', Manchester, Birmingham and other big cities can make a much bigger contribution to the national economy.
www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
June 6, 2025 at 11:26 AM
The main focus should be on the biggest cities.
The Mayor of London launched an ambitious growth plan for the capital.
And as 'second cities', Manchester, Birmingham and other big cities can make a much bigger contribution to the national economy.
www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
The Mayor of London launched an ambitious growth plan for the capital.
And as 'second cities', Manchester, Birmingham and other big cities can make a much bigger contribution to the national economy.
www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
Dutch DEI officers doing the rounds
May 30, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Dutch DEI officers doing the rounds
Alasdair MacIntyre, a titan of philosophy. And what a detail this is from Jane O'Grady (via Guardian)
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
May 26, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Alasdair MacIntyre, a titan of philosophy. And what a detail this is from Jane O'Grady (via Guardian)
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
Another chart, just for London.
Repurposing all empty homes - including those we technically can't - get London to <1/2 of its 10-year housebuilding target.
But doing so disregards the places where new homes are needed and the useful role empty homes have.
www.centreforcities.org/blog/there-a...
Repurposing all empty homes - including those we technically can't - get London to <1/2 of its 10-year housebuilding target.
But doing so disregards the places where new homes are needed and the useful role empty homes have.
www.centreforcities.org/blog/there-a...
May 23, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Another chart, just for London.
Repurposing all empty homes - including those we technically can't - get London to <1/2 of its 10-year housebuilding target.
But doing so disregards the places where new homes are needed and the useful role empty homes have.
www.centreforcities.org/blog/there-a...
Repurposing all empty homes - including those we technically can't - get London to <1/2 of its 10-year housebuilding target.
But doing so disregards the places where new homes are needed and the useful role empty homes have.
www.centreforcities.org/blog/there-a...
One of the rare YouTube videos where comments are relatively well-informed 👇
TLDR News looks at London's housing crisis and why Labour is pursuing planning reforms and a new approach to green belt
▶ www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKir...
TLDR News looks at London's housing crisis and why Labour is pursuing planning reforms and a new approach to green belt
▶ www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKir...
May 22, 2025 at 9:43 AM
One of the rare YouTube videos where comments are relatively well-informed 👇
TLDR News looks at London's housing crisis and why Labour is pursuing planning reforms and a new approach to green belt
▶ www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKir...
TLDR News looks at London's housing crisis and why Labour is pursuing planning reforms and a new approach to green belt
▶ www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKir...
It's International Museum Day wherever you are.
But I'm in Málaga - where it's also ☀️26°C and there are beaches...
The Picasso museum is too good to miss though.
But I'm in Málaga - where it's also ☀️26°C and there are beaches...
The Picasso museum is too good to miss though.
May 18, 2025 at 2:05 PM
It's International Museum Day wherever you are.
But I'm in Málaga - where it's also ☀️26°C and there are beaches...
The Picasso museum is too good to miss though.
But I'm in Málaga - where it's also ☀️26°C and there are beaches...
The Picasso museum is too good to miss though.