The gap between the highest and lowest performing cities is narrowing, however progress is too slow, according to PwC’s Good Growth for Cities Index.
The index ranks 50 of the UK's largest cities, plus the London boroughs as a whole, based on the public's assessment of 12 economic measures, including jobs, health, income, safety and skills, as well as work-life balance, housing, travel-to-work times, income equality, high street shops, environment and business start-ups.
Cities in the South West of England have improved on last year’s strong performance in the Index, with Swindon (2), Exeter (3) and Bristol (4) all ranked within the top five of the largest 50 UK cities. All five of the South West’s cities included in the Index were within the top 10. Plymouth, ranked sixth in the Index, is also the most improved city in the UK, and Bournemouth, ranked 8th, performs particularly well on environment, health outcomes and transport.
