A landmark report published on 19 November 2025 by Local Government East, the East of England All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), and regional partners sets out how the East of England can accelerate delivery of the Government’s five missions: boosting growth, building homes, improving health, and driving clean energy, if housing, health, and infrastructure challenges are addressed head-on.
The report, Opportunity East: One Year On, launched at a Parliamentary Reception on 19 November 2025, highlights the region’s role as a national economic engine and clean energy leader, while warning that housing shortages, poor-quality homes, and underinvestment in infrastructure risk slowing progress for the whole country.
Why It Matters
The East of England is a powerhouse of national growth, generating £214 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) annually and leading the UK in business R&D investment per capita, with nearly £10 billion of private R&D investment each year.
The report makes the case that with fairer public investment per head, the East of England could become a £235bn economy by the end of the Parliament.
It already produces one-third of England’s best farmland output, underpinning food security, and is at the forefront of Britain’s clean energy transition.
The region already delivers 5GW of offshore wind capacity, with a further 10GW in development, alongside major projects such as Sizewell C nuclear power station, hydrogen hubs, and grid connectivity upgrades. These investments will cement the East’s role as a cornerstone of Britain’s Net Zero future.
- Economic Growth: Our businesses invest nearly £10 billion annually in R&D, and our productivity outpaces the national average. However, growth is being constrained by critical challenges.
- Housing delivery is falling short, with 16,760 fewer homes built this year than the target of 45,429.
- 94,000 households remain on waiting lists, and 7,500 families are in temporary accommodation.
- Poor-quality housing is driving physical and mental health issues, increasing pressure on the NHS.
- Underinvestment in transport, digital networks, skills, and water infrastructure risks slowing national progress.
A Positive Call to Action
Regional leaders are calling on Government to work in partnership to unlock the East’s full potential by:
- Ensuring fair funding from the £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme, prioritising social rent to tackle housing need.
- Unlocking strategic housing sites by overcoming planning and infrastructure barriers in collaboration with councils.
- Aligning skills and infrastructure investment to create healthy, sustainable communities and support clean energy growth.
- Accelerating key projects such as the Ely and Haughley rail upgrades, A47 and A12 improvements, and delivery of the national skills plan through the region’s Skills Delivery Group.
The report also acknowledges recent Government commitments to Sizewell C, East West Rail, Luton Airport expansion, new reservoirs in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire, and Technical Excellence Colleges as vital foundations for future progress. It also highlights plans for a Universal Studios theme park and resort in Bedfordshire, scheduled to open in 2031. This development is expected to be transformative for Bedford and the wider UK economy, generating nearly £50 billion in economic benefits and creating approximately 28,000 jobs.
East of England APPG co-chairs Jess Asato, MP for Lowestoft and Pam Cox MP for Colchester set the scene, outlining the value of the report.
Jess Asato MP (Lowestoft), Co-Chair of East of England APPG:
“Our report shows how the East can help deliver the Government’s missions — but only if we tackle barriers together. We’re calling for fairer investment, better infrastructure, and closer collaboration to unlock the region’s full potential.”
Pam Cox MP, Co-Chair of the East of England APPG:
“Healthy homes are the foundation of opportunity. This report shows that housing is about more than numbers—it’s about health, dignity, and growth. This is a call to action. The solutions are clear, and the benefits will be nationwide. Let’s act now.”
Cllr Steve Jarvis, Vice Chair of Local Government East in his speech said that in the East of England can deliver growth, it can deliver opportunity, and it can deliver green power. He went on to say that the region is pulling together to deliver the housing targets of the government and that on green energy, the region is a core part of the solution with offshore wind alone representing a £25bn investment opportunity.
The event was attended by Members of the House of Lords, MPs, council leaders and chief executives, industry and business leaders.
The message was clear, the East is ready, the East is open for business and if you back us the East will deliver.