London Councils
Pan-London Infrastructure Framework
Metro Dynamics was commissioned by London Councils in summer 2022 to develop a strategic infrastructure framework for all of London. This project picked up from a key recommendation Metro Dynamics made to London Councils in delivering its Economic Framework in response to Covid-19, which set out a long-term vision for London to become an inclusive, sustainable, and polycentric city. The infrastructure framework therefore sets out the role of infrastructure in enabling the deliver of London’s long-term economic vision, whilst also activating development opportunities to stimulate regeneration and economic growth in the near-term. This project featured extensive engagement with Leaders and Mayors from all of London’s boroughs; officers from London boroughs, the Greater London Authority, and Sub-Regional Partnership; regulated infrastructure providers including Transport for London and Thames Water; and private and institutional investors.
The final report sets the case for infrastructure as a driver of inclusive economic growth, and key trends and drivers affecting infrastructure delivery in London. It then sets out four strategic categories for infrastructure projects that were co-developed with political and officer engagement, as well as identifying specific projects and programmes supporting each of those categories – 70 projects made it into the framework based on a review of 170 projects collected through a RFP process. The framework concludes by highlighting the role for innovation in future infrastructure delivery, particularly considering novel funding and delivery models. Metro Dynamics will join London Councils in launching the infrastructure framework at UK REiiF in Leeds in May 2023, and the London Councils will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the projects and programmes featured in the framework. We will continue to work with London Councils to identify opportunities to take forward our recommendations around infrastructure funding and delivery, looking to provide capacity and capability across the London ecosystem.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Trailblazer Devolution Deal
Metro Dynamics advised the GMCA Strategy team with the development of the Trailblazer Devolution Deal announced at Spring Budget 2023. Work particularly focused on options for fiscal devolution, developing the single settlement, supporting analysis on proposed Investment Zones and finalising the deal text.
Impact Investing Institute & Lloyds Banking Group
Place-Based Impact Investing
Working with Lloyds Bank, RW Ventures, and the Impact Investing Institute, Metro Dynamics explored how mainstream financial institutions, and high street banks in particular, can more actively engage with place-based agendas to maximise financial returns alongside environment and social impact. Metro Dynamics provided content related to ‘place’, especially in the UK context, through a rigorous programme of consultation that produced three robust case studies of best practice in place-based impact investing. The III contributed content from its impact investing expertise, while RW provided international case studies for context and comparison.
The whole project used Lloyds Bank as a model for how change could be affected in real financial institutions, while also engaging with national decision makers to assess how the policy context could be made more favourable to incentivising and facilitating new approaches to place-based impact investment. The final report (available here) is being used in ongoing engagement between key national stakeholders, and the place-based impact investing toolkit has been published on the III’s learning hub for impact investing practitioners.
Metro Dynamics was been commissioned by Belfast City Council to support them in their inclusive growth ambitions. We worked to define inclusive growth in Belfast and create an inclusive growth mission statement. This was informed by the outcomes of an engagement exercise based on a series of interviews with council officers, council directors and party leaders, and a workshop with council members. We then worked with Belfast to develop a bespoke Inclusive Growth Decision Making Framework that can be embedded across the Council. The focus is on what Belfast City Council can do across all of its activities to better promote inclusive growth. We have acted as a critical friend as officers draft the Inclusive Growth Strategy (available here).
Belfast City Council
Inclusive Growth Strategy
Metro Dynamics was commissioned by UK Biobank to provide support in delivering an Outline Business Case seeking investment of over £100m from the UK Research & Innovation Infrastructure Fund. This funding will be directed towards replacing existing infrastructure which has become obsolete with a new facility based in Manchester. It will also facilitate programme spending that will develop new data assets and a hub designed to increase industry collaborations. This development is critical to the UK’s research landscape and also to achieving the government’s objectives to grow economies outside the South East.
As one of the UK’s most critical scientific assets, UK Biobank houses a large-scale biomedical database and a sample archive that contains detailed genetic and health information from 500,000 UK citizen participants. This funding, if approved, will bring immense value to the UK industry and academics communities, enhancing access to the sample archive and securing significant investment for further enhancements. The investment will drive new discoveries that improve population health and generate a range of other socio-economic benefits.
Metro Dynamics provided guidance across all aspects of the business case in line with HM Treasury’s updated Green Book and led the economic appraisal to demonstrate the value for money of the proposed development and the significant monetised benefits that will be accrued. Additionally, Metro Dynamics played a pivotal role in navigating the complex approval processes leading up to HM Treasury review.