H&F Council Sets Out Blueprint for Economic Development
Report authored by Stephen Cowan argues growth must be locally generated
Stephen Cowan brandishes his report at the forum. Picture: LBHF
October 19, 2026
Hammersmith & Fulham has set out a new model for how cities across Britain – and beyond – can generate economic growth rooted in innovation, partnership and local identity. The council unveiled its five-point blueprint at the Upstream London Network Economic Forum on 13 October, bringing together senior policymakers, researchers, business leaders and representatives from major international innovation districts to share lessons on how places can compete in a rapidly shifting global economy.
The blueprint, developed with partners from Europe, Australia and South America, argues that the next era of economic growth must be driven locally, through strategies designed around the strengths and character of individual places. As the document explains, it illustrates “how a place-based, innovation-led, inclusive economic strategy can drive rapid growth and be followed by cities in the UK and across the world.” At its core are five ingredients: entrepreneurial municipal government, partnerships with anchor institutions, investment attraction, start-up and scale-up support, and targeted interventions to ensure growth benefits everyone.
Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council and Chair of London Councils, authored the report. He told delegates that the UK must respond to accelerating American and Chinese dominance in technological innovation, investment and manufacturing with a new approach that blends cutting-edge research with inclusive, locally delivered growth. “The first chapter of this new blueprint sets out how keeping pace with the US and China takes more than technological innovation and knowledge-based growth: it takes inclusive growth plans, designed and delivered at local level,” he said.
Cowan argued that local government is uniquely placed to lead this shift, with powers over planning, zoning, skills, infrastructure and public amenities already held at borough level. “Every council needs its own locally specific, place-based economic growth plan,” he said, adding that H&F’s own experience shows what is possible. Over the past decade, the borough has attracted £6.5 billion of growth investment and created 17,200 new STEM jobs by bringing universities, investors, businesses and communities together around a shared mission.
A central example is the White City Innovation District, established in 2017 in partnership with Imperial College London. The district transformed former brownfield land into a campus for commercialising research, supported by repurposed BBC infrastructure at White City Place. The result is one of the UK’s fastest-growing innovation economies, demonstrating the “triple helix” model of anchor institutions, entrepreneurial municipal government and business working in concert.
The blueprint also draws on international partners including Barcelona, Milan, Oslo, Buenos Aires, Lillestrøm, Melbourne and Rzeszów. Representatives from each city spoke at the forum, emphasising the importance of collaboration, local strengths and inclusive growth. As one contributor put it, “The real measure of an innovation district is not simply how much innovation it generates, but how that innovation translates into opportunities for people and communities.”
Speakers highlighted the need for connected ecosystems rather than isolated assets, for municipalities to “lead from behind” while enabling bottom-up collaboration, and for innovation districts to avoid becoming generic replicas driven by buzzwords. Others stressed the importance of social innovation, cross-border cooperation and ensuring that no community is left behind as growth accelerates.
The Earls Court Development Company, strategic partner to the forum, was presented as a case study in how major regeneration projects can embody the blueprint’s principles. CEO Rob Heasman claimed that before construction has even begun, the Earls Court project has already generated more than 2,000 jobs and delivered a £50 million uplift to the local economy.
The blueprint’s five elements form a model that H&F hopes other cities will adapt to their own contexts. As Isabel Sabadi of Barcelona’s 22@Network said, “The real strength of our blueprint lies in cooperation – sharing both our successes and our challenges across borders.”
Value Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We've always done that and won't be changing, in fact we'd like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we'd be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you'd like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |