READING has topped the table of the most successful economic 'cities’ in the country.

The Demos-PwC Good Growth for Cities Index, published on Monday [18], revealed the borough had been voted the top place to live and work, after a survey quizzed people on 10 factors most important to them when judging quality of life.

Nigel Horton Baker, executive director of economic development company Reading UK CIC, said: “This report highlights Reading’s attractive blend of job opportunities with good earnings potential for many, allied to an excellent quality of life. Reading ranks highly as a great place to live and work in many surveys and its size and location means it offers many of the benefits usually associated with large cities without the drawbacks.”

The 10 factors people were asked about included job security, income levels, health, work-life balance, affordable housing, balance of the economy, affordable and good quality transport systems, providing for the future, protecting the environment and fair distribution of income and wealth.

These were weighted according to a survey of what the public said was important to them in judging quality of life, with Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Southampton and Cambridge among the top areas, and London, Wakefield and Middlesbrough at the bottom.

Mr Horton Baker added: “Reading UK CIC, alongside a wide range of stakeholders in Reading, will be working hard to encourage increased investment into Reading and promote the town and surroundings area as a great place to live, work and play.”

Reading Borough Council deputy leader, Cllr Tony Page, welcomed the report, and said: “This is good news for Reading in terms of business and investment. Obviously we still have problems to tackle, like congestion and air quality, but this is an encouraging report and one that will be used to market the town.”

Rob Wilson, Reading East MP, said: “For those of us who have been living here for a long time, these statistics are no surprise. Reading is a fantastic place to live and keeps getting better.

“The developments and investment we have seen in the past few years, such as the spectacular refurbishment of Reading Station, the new University Technical College, proposal for a new rail link to Heathrow and a potential second site for one of the area’s leading secondary schools show that we are continuing to head in the right direction.”