Exeter joins Key Cities as a new member city

Key Cities – a national network representing almost half of the UK’s urban areas – has announced that four new cities are joining the organisation.

Bath, Exeter, Lincoln and Wrexham will join the network of 21 other member cities, which have a broad political and geographical spread across the UK.

Key Cities works with other cities, towns and organisations across local government and beyond to deliver prosperity, protect the environment and raise standards of living across the country. The network champions for the future of the UK’s urban centres by producing research, responding to consultations and engaging with politicians and policy makers.

The new members will further strengthen the network’s ability to influence national policy, share and scale new ideas, and drive economic and social growth.

Key Cities’ work will also play an important role in the UK’s post-Covid recovery, particularly on issues relating to ports, housing, culture, climate, levelling up and devolution.

Cllr Phil Bialyk, Leader of Exeter City Council, said: “Key Cities delivers. By working together, we will be able to unlock things for residents we simply wouldn’t have been able to do on our own.

“In the city the public and private sector are already working hard together to deliver Exeter’s recovery and things residents have said are important to them. This is a much welcome boost to be able see those results more quickly.

“These include overcoming our infrastructure challenges and capitalising on opportunities to drive the levelling up agenda for the South West.”