What is it
“Opportunity East: One year on” follows on from the fantastic work undertaken in the first Opportunity East report, published by Local Government East in collaboration with our partners across the East of England, including:
- Transport East and England’s Economic Heartlands – The local subnational transport bodies for our region
- Our member authorities
- The East of England All Party Parliamentary Group
- Chambers East – The region’s Chambers of Commerce
- Water Resources East
- The East of England Energy Group
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.