New Report Identifies Reading as a Pillar of Vitality
19th February 2025
Reading ranked 7th overall as a place to live and work in the UK, according to the 2025 Vitality Index published by LSH. Reading’s strong performance is predicated on a top five position in two of the three main "pillars" utilised by the report. Reading ranked in the top five places for Economy/Business and Living, only missing out on a top 10 place in Health & Environment.
The Vitality Index utilises 18 datasets to identify the best places to live and work in the UK. By incorporating a range of indicators spanning Economy & Business, Living and Health & Environment, the report takes a holistic approach in assessing the vitality of the UK’s 100 largest towns and cities by population outside of London.
Reading places 4th for Economic and Business vitality which the report evidences through strong density of business, high productivity levels and new enterprise startups, especially in key growth sectors. Economic growth prospects and commercial property investment are also forecast to be very good.
Reading ranked 5th for Living. The Living pillar demonstrated why Reading is attractive to companies, young professionals and families coming to Reading, highlighting high educational attainment in our schools, above average working population with degree level and above attainment, and a high street able to attract above average spending in retail and minimising the vacancy rates.
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Nigel Horton-Baker, REDA Chief Executive, said: “This report, on top of last month’s Centre for Cities similar economic health check, shows that Reading is performing well against many of the key indicators for strong, high productivity led sustainable growth. While there is still work to do in the areas of health and environment, according to the report, good progress is being made towards the Net Zero target of 2030, including a 51% reduction in the borough’s carbon emissions since 2005 (the eighth largest reduction across 374 local authority areas in the UK) and the leading Berkshire local authority area for emission reductions (ahead of the UK average by 12 percentage points).”
