Regional development agencies have failed

England’s regional development agencies have failed to close the north-south divide and should be either closed down, merged or given new objectives, according to a report by the Centre for Cities. Although the report accepted that reform was unlikely during the economic crisis, it argued that agencies should be shaken up after the next election to focus on boosting regional growth rates and promoting job creation. It recommends the three northern RDAs should be merged into a single agency, while the South East, East and London agencies should be streamlined or abolished.