Well-managed decentralisation will offer local areas an opportunity to strengthen their growth, writes Melanie Dawes, in advance of next week's SOLACE summit. 

Since the General Election, the devolution agenda has grown significantly in strength and scope. There is a growing consensus—from local and central government—that all places are different, so the way in which the Government works with them should also be different.

Greg Clark championed this message throughout the last Parliament and now, as secretary of state for communities and local government, he has pledged to go much further.