Why investors should take close notice of the UK government’s levelling-up agenda

Investors should be taking close notice of the UK government’s levelling-up agenda, writes Angela Goodings, research director, strategic insights, at Nuveen Real Estate.

At the beginning of February 2022, the UK government announced its long-awaited “levelling up” plan to address and close the gap between the richest and poorest parts of the country.

An ambitious target of 2030 is set and much needed, as the United Kingdom is one of the most geographically uneven countries, with income inequality ranked as one of the highest in Europe, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Addressing the unequal level of productivity and economic success (which has historically been focused on select parts of the country, namely the South East) is high on the agenda. The government’s strategy also encompasses a broader range of social inequalities to include education, health and connectivity.

To achieve this, the plan h