Centre for London

Centre for London
Name	Centre for London
Type	Independent think tank
Founded	2011
Headquarters	London
Key people	Ben Rogers
Focus	Urban policy, public policy, London

Centre for London is an independent think tank focused on urban policy for the City of London and the wider Greater London metropolis. Based in central London, it produces research, convenes stakeholders, and advises policymakers across institutions such as City Hall, the UK Parliament, and international bodies. The organisation engages with civic leaders from boroughs like Camden, Hackney, and Southwark as well as cultural institutions including the British Museum, Tate Modern, and the Royal Opera House.

History

Founded in 2011, the organisation emerged amid debates following the 2008 financial crisis and the tenure of Boris Johnson as Mayor of London and later during the administrations of Sadiq Khan and Ken Livingstone. Early work intersected with inquiries such as the London Housing Crisis debates and responses to events including the 2012 Summer Olympics legacy discussions and the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire. It has operated alongside other policy centres like the Institute for Public Policy Research, the ResPublica, and the Policy Exchange while engaging with metropolitan networks such as C40 Cities and the London Councils body.

Mission and Research Areas

The group’s mission foregrounds urban resilience, infrastructure, inclusion, and competitiveness in relation to hubs like the City of London, the Canary Wharf financial district, and technology clusters around Shoreditch and King’s Cross. Research spans transport matters tied to Transport for London, housing policy linked to Homes England and social housing providers such as Peabody Trust, environmental projects involving GLA climate targets and partnerships with organizations like the Met Office and UK Research and Innovation. Work also touches on skills and employment across institutions including London Councils and employers such as Barclays, HSBC, and cultural employers like the National Theatre.

Governance and Funding

Governance is overseen by a board comprising figures from finance, philanthropy, and academia with connections to organisations such as Lloyd’s of London, Barclays, Wellcome Trust, and universities like University College London and the London School of Economics. Funding sources have included trusts and foundations such as the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, corporate supporters including Network Rail and Transport for London, and philanthropic donors associated with the City of London Corporation and charitable bodies like the Royal Foundation. The centre’s relationships have been compared to funding models used by think tanks such as the Demos and Chatham House.

Major Publications and Projects

Major reports have addressed housing with analyses referencing developers like Balfour Beatty and housing associations such as the Notting Hill Genesis, transport studies intersecting with projects by Crossrail and HS2, and economic forecasts engaging institutions such as the Bank of England and Office for National Statistics. Projects have included convenings and commissions with stakeholders from Mayor of London’s offices, borough councils like Islington and Lambeth, and cultural partnerships with venues such as the Barbican Centre. The centre has produced briefings on events including the Brexit referendum’s impact on the financial services cluster and studies on public health responses referencing Public Health England and the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Influence and Policy Impact

The organisation has informed debates at the London Assembly, contributed evidence to select committees of the House of Commons, and been cited by commissioners in reports from the National Infrastructure Commission and the Greater London Authority. Its recommendations have influenced planning frameworks used by borough planning departments such as Hackney Council and Tower Hamlets, and have been discussed in media outlets including The Financial Times, The Guardian, and The Economist. Internationally, its work has been referenced in exchanges with city networks like Metropolis and forums convened by the OECD.

Criticism and Controversies

Critics have questioned ties to corporate donors in sectors represented by Canary Wharf Group, British Land, and multinational banks, raising concerns about potential influence similar to controversies surrounding bodies like the Adam Smith Institute and Institute of Economic Affairs. Some community groups in boroughs such as Hackney and Newham have challenged the centre’s stances on development, citing tensions evident in debates over regeneration projects like those at Barking Riverside and the King’s Cross redevelopment. Academic commentators from institutions like the London School of Economics and Queen Mary University of London have debated methodological choices in certain reports, echoing wider controversies seen in think-tank funding transparency conversations involving organisations such as Transparency International.

Category:Think tanks based in the United Kingdom