This page outlines the Government’s ambition to complete the devolution map. It also sets out the existing devolution framework and devolution deals agreed between successive governments.
On 16 December 2024, following the publication of the English Devolution White Paper, the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution Jim McMahon, wrote to all councils in remaining two-tier areas and neighbouring small unitary authorities to set out plans for a joint programme of devolution and local government reorganisation.
The Devolution Priority Programme
The Devolution Priority Programme (DPP) is for areas who wish to move towards devolution at pace to pursue establishment of a Mayoral Strategic Authority. This will be with a view to inaugural mayoral elections in May 2026.
The Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution has outlined that participants must also have local agreement to move forward around a sensible geographical footprint.
On 5 February 2025, The Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution confirmed that the following areas agreed to join the Devolution Priority Programme:
Cumbria (Cumberland Council, Westmorland and Furness Council)
Cheshire and Warrington (Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Warrington Borough Council)
Greater Essex (Essex County Council, Thurrock Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council)
Hampshire and Solent (Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Isle of Wight Council, Southampton City Council)
Norfolk and Suffolk (Norfolk County Council, Suffolk County Council)
Sussex and Brighton (East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council, Brighton and Hove City Council).
These six successful areas will now work with the Government to deliver devolution with consultations set to launch shortly. The DPP aims to deliver mayoral elections across these areas in May 2026.
Councils that expressed interest to be part of the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme on or before 10 January 2025:
Deal name
Councils
Kent and Medway
Kent County Council, Medway Council
Hampshire & Solent
Hampshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Southampton City Council, Portsmouth City Council
Wessex
Wiltshire Council, Dorset Council, Somerset Council, BCP Council
Surrey
Surrey County Council
Essex
Essex County Council, Thurrock Council and Southend-on-Sea City Council
Sussex
East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council, Brighton & Hove City Council
Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Council, Leicester City Council and Rutland Council
Cheshire
Chester East Council, Cheshire West & Chester Councils, Warrington Borough Council
South Midlands
Bedford Borough Council, Luton Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council, Milton Keynes City Council, North Northamptonshire Council, West Northamptonshire Council
Norfolk & Suffolk
Norfolk County Council, Suffolk County Council
Cumbria
Cumberland Council, Westmorland & Furness Council
What is a combined authority (CA) and county combined authority (CCA)?
A combined authority (CA) is a legal body set up using national legislation that enables a group of two or more councils to collaborate and take collective decisions across council boundaries. A combined county authority (CCA) is formed between two or more county councils and possibly unitary councils.
It is far more robust than an informal partnership or even a joint committee. The creation of a CA means that member councils can be more ambitious in their joint working and can take advantage of powers and resources devolved to them from national government. While established by Parliament, CAs and CCAs are locally owned and have to be initiated and supported by the councils involved.
Existing legislation
A range of national legislation has been established to create combined authorities and county combined authorities:
The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act (2009) allowed for the creation of a combined authority.
The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act (2016) provides that the Secretary of State may order for a combined authority to maintain an elected mayor. It also provides new powers for combined authorities.
The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act (2023) legislated for the creation of a combined county authority between two or more county councils and other constituent councils.
Newly created CA’s and CCA’s
On 5 February 2025 the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution confirmed the formal establishment of three new combined authorities and one new county combined authority.
Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority
Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority
Lancashire Combined Authority
Devon and Torbay Combined Authority.
From 6 February 2025 Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority and Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority will take their first steps as new Strategic Authorities. Both will elect a mayor for their areas in May this year.
Learn more about CAs
The creation of a CA means that member councils can be more ambitious in their joint working and can take advantage of powers and resources devolved to them from national government.
Existing legislative framework
Under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act (2009) and the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act (2016), devolution was considered along a deals-based approach in which a range of settlements had been developed in existing combined authorities.
Whilst the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act (2023) maintained the deal-based approach, the Act outlined the following framework:
Level 1 – Local authorities working together across a Functional Economic Area (FEA) or whole county area e.g. through a joint committee.
Level 2 – A single institution or County Council without a directly elected mayor, across a FEA or whole county area.
Level 3 – A single institution or County Council with a directly elected mayor, across a functional economic area or whole county area.
In addition, the previous Government outlined plans for a Level 4 form of devolution. This provided for deeper powers for existing Level 3 areas, such as an integrated financial settlement in certain areas, subject to eligibility criteria. Trailblazer deals were signed with Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, whilst the Liverpool City Region, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire have been confirmed as eligible for a future deal.
Existing devolution deals
When: August 2024
Governance: Combined County Authority with a directly elected mayor
The deal includes new powers to improve and better integrate local transport, including the ability to introduce bus franchising, control of appropriate local transport functions, e.g. local transport plans, and control of a Key Route Network. An integrated transport settlement for the East Midlands will begin in 2024/25.
The East Midlands will be granted new powers to better shape local skills provision to meet the needs of the local economy, including devolution of the core Adult Education Budget.
The mayor will have control over a £38 million per year allocation of investment funding over 30 years split on a 50:50 basis between capital and revenue. Provision has been made for over £17 million for the building of new homes on brownfield land in 2024/25 and £18 million in this spending review for net zero and local housing priorities, both of which are subject to business case reviews.
The deal includes new powers to improve and better integrate local transport, including the ability to introduce bus franchising, control of appropriate local transport functions e.g., local transport plans, and control of a Key Route Network.
York and North Yorkshire have also gained a key leadership role for the mayor in public safety, taking on the role and functions of the Police Fire & Crime Commissioner and having a clear role in local resilience and civil contingency planning, preparation, and delivery.
The mayor will also take control of a £18 million per year allocation of investment funding over 30 years (split 35 per cent capital and 65 per cent revenue) to be invested by York and North Yorkshire to drive growth and take forward its priorities over the longer term. It also includes an integrated transport settlement starting in 2024/25 and an additional £1 million to support the development of local transport plans. The core Adult Education Budget will also be devolved to the region.
The deal contains new powers to shape local skills provision to better meet the needs of the local economy and local people, including devolution of the core Adult Education Budget. In addition, Greater Lincolnshire will be granted new powers to drive the regeneration of the area and to build more affordable homes including compulsory purchase powers and the ability to establish Mayoral Development Corporations.
The mayoral combined authority will attain powers to improve and better integrate local transport, including the ability to introduce bus franchising. This will include a consolidated local transport settlement.
The deal provides £8.36 million for the building of new homes on brownfield land and £228,000 capacity funding to bring forward a pipeline of housing projects, both in 2024/25. It also provides control of a £24 million per year allocation of investment funding for 30 years (50 per cent capital and 5 per cent revenue) to be invested by the Greater Lincolnshire MCCA to drive growth and take forward its priorities over the long term.
There is also provision for £20 million capital funding to drive place-based economic regeneration, as well as £2 million of Mayoral Capacity Funding.
The deal provides provision for the devolution of the core Adult Education Budget and the responsibility for a consolidated local transport settlement.
Hull and East Yorkshire will control £13.34 million per year of investment funding over 30 years, which will be split 35 per cent capital and 65 per cent revenue. Up to £15 million capital funding in the current Spending Review period will be provided to support transport, flood and coastal erosion programmes across the area, a brownfield employment programme in Hull, and a coastal regeneration programme.
Furthermore, up to £5 million of capital funding in the current Spending Review period to further support Hull and East Yorkshire’s economic growth priorities. £4.6 million for the building of new homes on brownfield land in 2024/25, as well as £2 million of Mayoral Capacity Funding over 3 years.
There are also commitments for the combined authority to take observer status on the Humber Energy Board through the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero, and work with a subset of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s arm’s length bodies to establish a collaborative partnership to share expertise and insight across culture, heritage, sport, communities and the visitor economy.
Governance: Combined Authority without an elected mayor
The deal establishes that the former Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership will be incorporated into the combined authority. Up to £20 million capital funding in the current Spending Review period to support innovation led growth and net zero ambitions across Lancashire, subject to business cases.
In addition, the Adult Education Budget will be devolved to Lancashire. New powers will be provided to improve and better integrate local transport, including the ability to introduce bus franchising, and control of appropriate local transport functions e.g. responsibility for an area-wide local transport plan.
The combined authority will also take on additional compulsory purchase powers, where agreement is reached with the relevant local authority.
The deal allows for the devolution of the Adult Education Budget to Surrey from 2026/27. The Council will also take on compulsory purchase powers, where agreement can be reached with the relevant district authority.
The deal allows for the devolution of the Adult Education Budget to Warwickshire from 2026/27. The Council will also take on compulsory purchase powers, where agreement can be reached with the relevant district authority.
The deal allows for the devolution of the Adult Education Budget to Buckinghamshire from 2026/27. The Government and Buckinghamshire will further explore the devolution of Homes England land assembly and compulsory purchase powers for housing and regeneration purposes.
Governance: Combined authority without an elected mayor
New powers to improve and better integrate local transport, including the ability to introduce bus franchising. In addition, the Adult Education Budget will be devolved to Greater Devon in 2026/27.
The deal also contains provision that £16 million of new capital funding in this Spending Review period will be provided to support the delivery of local housing priorities, drive Net Zero ambitions and support green skills, and accelerate wider low carbon business transition across the Devon and Torbay area. This investment is subject to agreement of the relevant business cases.
The former Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership functions, currently held by Devon and Torbay councils, will be incorporated into the combined authority.
An existing North of Tyne Combined Authority existed previously. This deal was extended to the entire North East in 2022, with the first election taking place in May 2024.
It outlines control of a £48 million per year investment fund over 30 years (£34 million revenue and £14 million capital), to be invested by the North East to drive growth and take forward its priorities over the longer term.
Likewise, new powers to improve and better integrate local transport, including the ability to introduce bus franchising, control of appropriate local transport functions e.g., local transport plans, and control of a key route network. A city region sustainable transport settlement of up to £563 million capital funding, with £5.7 million resource funding for 2022/23 and further funding to be confirmed in line with other eligible areas.
New powers to drive the regeneration of the area and to build more affordable, more beautiful homes, including compulsory purchase powers and the ability to establish mayoral development corporations. The Adult Education Budget will also be devolved to the North East.
Consolidated single pot for housing and regeneration funding, as a stepping stone to full single departmental-style funding settlement. To give the Combined Authority the tools to drive economic growth and attract investment to the region, the government will provide a package of financial investment potentially worth over £100 million, including £37 million of new flexible funding and an agreement to establish a growth zone with local retention of Business Rates Growth. Set the overall strategic direction of the Affordable Housing Programme, in partnership with Homes England.
A further consolidation of NEMCA’s transport funding, a new partnership with Great British Railways which will support rail integration with local transport, and further details of the pathway to agree a London-style integrated fares and ticketing system across the North East. £58.4 million capital funding for the Tyne & Wear Metro for 2025/26 and 2026/27 drawn forward from the North East’s indicative City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement.
Financial investment potentially worth over £100 million, including £37 million of new flexible funding and an agreement to establish a growth zone with local retention of Business Rates Growth.
Devolve non-apprenticeship adult skills functions, remove ringfences on funding for Free Courses for Jobs and Skills Bootcamps, and establish NEMCA as the central convenor of careers provision in the region.
NEMCA and the Department for Work and Pensions will strengthen partnership working arrangements via a new Regional Board to improve employment support outcomes. In addition to the Level 4 offer, the Department will support NEMCA to scope a pilot employment support programme to support tenants in social housing.
When: June 2016
Governance: combined authority with a new directly elected mayor
The deal includes specific funding for housing, with the Mayor responsible for a £100m housing and infrastructure fund, and the combined authority having control over a ring-fenced £70m to meet housing needs. The Combined Authority will also have control of a new additional £20million a year funding allocation over 30 years, to be invested to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Single Investment Fund, to boost growth.
The Mayor will have a number of powers under the deal, including responsibility of a multi-year, consolidated transport budget, an identified Key Route network of local authority roads and strategic planning powers. The Combined Authority, working with the Mayor, will receive powers including responsibility for chairing a review of 16+ skills provision, devolved adult skills funding from 2018-19 and joint responsibility with Government and other local partner organisations to co-design the new National Work and Health Programme designed to focus on those with a health condition or disability and the very long term unemployed.
Governance:Cornwall Council and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership
The deal includes devolved powers for franchising bus services, joint working to re-shape further education training and learning provision for adults and the development of new apprenticeship opportunities. The deal also gives Cornwall Intermediate Body status for two European Union structural funds and sees the integration of local and national business support services. Government has committed to work with Cornwall on proposals for a low carbon enterprise zone as well as other energy initiatives, the creation a Cornish Heritage Environment Forum and matters relating to the public estate. Local health organisations are invited, as part of the deal, to produce a business plan for the integration of health and social care services.
The deal allows for the devolution of the Adult Education Budget to Cornwall from 2025/26.
A further £0.5 million funding will be provided to Cornwall to support Cornish distinctiveness. In addition, the Government also commits to agreeing a memorandum of understanding with Cornwall Council on the attendance of the Council at meetings of the languages work sector of the British-Irish Council.
The Government will also support Cornwall’s ambition to create an Offshore Wind to minimise the ecological impact and maximise the job creation associated.
Governance: combined authority with a new directly elected mayor
The deal includes a devolved and consolidated transport budget, responsibility for franchised bus services and integrated smart ticketing across all local modes of transport, as well as exploring opportunities for devolving rail stations across the GMCA area. The deal also includes powers over strategic planning, control of a new £300 million Housing Investment Fund, a reformed earn back deal and agrees for the mayor of GMCA to take on the role of Police and Crime Commissioner. Responsibility for devolved business support budgets, control of the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers and power to reshape Further Education (FE) provision are also included, as is control of an expanded Working Well pilot and joint commissioning arrangements with DWP for the Work Programme. GMCA and Greater Manchester CCGs, as part of the deal, have been invited to develop a business plan for the integration of health and social care across Greater Manchester.
Following the initial deal in 2014, Greater Manchester and NHS England signed up to arrangements to bring together £6 billion of NHS and social care budgets so that joint planning of these services deliver better care for patients. In addition, the March 2015 Budget announced a pilot scheme in Greater Manchester and Cheshire East to enable the retention of 100% of any additional business rate growth.
Further devolution to GMCA was announced as part of the Spending Review. Details include a commitment from Government to consider how regulatory reform can support local housing and public service reform aspirations, the power to implement a Community Infrastructure Levy and the development of a business case for a Land Programme. It also sets out that the Infrastructure Commission will provide advice on investment priorities for the North, transparency commitments pertaining to the funding of franchised bus services and agreement to consider proposals for a joint investment platform to improve the area's highways network. Subject to legislation, the Mayor will have the power to introduce a Business Rates Supplement, and GMCA will agree a MOU with the British Business Bank setting out how they will work together to support SMEs. The deal also outlines considerations for the establishment of a Public Service Reform Investment Fund and how Government will support GMCA to develop and implement an integrated approach to preventative services for children and young people. GMCA will carry out an analysis of all post-19 skills provision. The deal commits to discussion on further areas for co-operation and grants that GMCA will gain Intermediate Body status.
- To bring together funding from the Troubled Families Programme, Working Well pilot; Cabinet Office Life Chances Fund into a Life Chances Investment Fund
- Work with the Government and PCC on joint commissioning of offender management services, youth justice and services for youth offenders, the courts and prisons estates, 'sobriety tagging', and custody budgets.
- The Government will enable local commissioning of outcomes to be achieved from the adult education budget starting in academic year 2016/17; and will fully devolve budgets to the Combined Authority from academic year 2018/19. These arrangements do not cover apprenticeships.
- Government committing to review its approach to national housing programmes so as not to hinder Greater Manchester from delivering its innovative housing objectives. GMCA will pilot 100 per cent retention of business rates as of 1 April 2017.
- The GMCA also intends to absorb the Manchester joint waste disposal authority.
At the Autumn Budget 2017 the Government and Greater Manchester agreed new commitments to further strengthen joint working and support devolution. This included working together to develop a local industrial strategy, explore future transport funding and develop a trade and investment plan. Greater Manchester also received £243 million from the Transforming Cities Fund for transport investment.
The deal contains provision for a consolidated, long-term budget for GMCA. This single settlement will be designed in the mold of government departments’ budgets: set at Spending Reviews and based on thematic functions. Includes piloting the devolution of net zero funding, including for buildings’ retrofit, through allocation rather than competition in the period from 2025 onwards.
Local leadership of the Affordable Homes Programme for the first time outside of London, worth £400 million to Greater Manchester. The region will also receive £150 million for brownfield funding. Also, the extension of Greater Manchester’s 100 per cent retention of business rate growth for an additional ten years.
A new rail partnership with Great British Railways to support the delivery of the Bee Network by 2030. The deal also provides further responsibility to: co-design approach to all future contracted employment support programmes, devolution of non-apprenticeship adult skills functions and grant funding in the next Spending Review, and new levers to support GMCA’s commitment to public service reform.
Greater Manchester will also establish new coordination groups, including a Strategic Cultural Partnership and Digital Infrastructure Leadership Group. There will also be piloting the devolution of net zero funding, including for buildings’ retrofit, through allocation rather than competition in the period from 2025 onwards.
Governance: combined authority with a new directly elected mayor
The deal includes devolved responsibility for a consolidated transport budget with a multi-year settlement, responsibility for franchised bus services and powers over strategic planning, including the creation of new Mayoral Development Corporation. LCR will also create a Single Investment Fund that draws together city region and agreed national funding streams, to which central government will allocate an additional £30 million a year funding over 30 years to unlock economic potential in the region. Further components of the deal include new responsibilities and devolved arrangements for skills provision, a commitment to work towards a devolved approach to business support and a stated partnership approach with Government on innovation, energy and National Museums Liverpool.
This gives Liverpool additional new powers over transport, pilots the approach to 100 per cent business rate retention across the city region, as well as agreeing further commitments for the City Region and Government to work together on children's services, health, housing and justice.
The Government announced in the 2017 Autumn Budget that it would enter into discussions with the Liverpool City Region to explore scope for further devolution to the area.
*The Government confirmed in March 2024 that the Liverpool City Region is eligible for a Level 4 devolution deal.
When: December 2015
Governance: A London Health and Social Care Devolution Programme Board established for January 2016, accounting to the London Health Board
The deal sets out a collective agreement by London and National Partners to transform health and wellbeing outcomes, inequalities and services in London through new ways of working together and with the public. It includes devolution of funding and commissioning powers, additional fiscal and regulatory powers, licensing and employment support, changes to governance and regulation, joint capital strategic planning, joint workforce strategic planning, involvement of London partners in the development of new payment mechanisms and full involvement of London partners in decisions about provider performance.
The Spring Budget 2017 announced a Memorandum of Understanding on further devolution to London covering construction, infrastructure funding, business rates, criminal justice and a number of other areas. As part of the document, the Government committed to working with national organisations and London partners to agree a second Memorandum of Understanding focusing on health devolution to London.
In November 2017, a health and social care devolution deal for London was announced. The deal includes commitments relating to NHS capital assets and estates, commissioning budgets and payment mechanisms, and the health and care workforce in London.
Governance:combined authority and the Local Economic Partnership
The deal covers a range of themes including devolved responsibilities for adult skills funding and provision, joint working with Government on employment to ensure their work joins up with the local skills and training offer, and establishment a more flexible and responsive business support system. As part of the deal, Government will explore options to give South Yorkshire (then Sheffield City Region) more control over the delivery of local transport schemes, particularly in preparation for HS2, and the local authorities within the region will form a Joint Assets Board with the Homes and Communities Agency to influence asset disposals in a way that supports the local economy.
Governance:combined authority with a new directly elected mayor
The second deal to South Yorkshire grants the Mayor responsibility for a consolidated, devolved transport budget with a multi-year settlement, responsibility for franchised bus services and responsibility for an identified Key Route Network of local authority roads. The deal also grants the Mayor devolved powers over strategic planning. The combined authority, working with the Mayor, gains control of a new additional £30 million a year funding allocation over 30 years, responsibility for chairing an area based review of 16+ skills provision and devolved 19+ adult skills funding from 2018/19.
The deal also outlines a joint responsibility with Government to co-design employment support for harder-to-help claimants and to develop and implement a devolved approach to the delivery of national business support programmes. The combined authority and Government will also work together on the development of the South Yorkshire Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District, a City Region led proposal to undertake a Science and Innovation audit and a national Institute for Infrastructure within Doncaster.
*The Government confirmed in March 2024 that South Yorkshire is eligible for a Level 4 devolution deal.
When: October 2015
Governance: combined authority with a new directly elected mayor
The deal includes devolved responsibility for a consolidated transport budget, as well as creation of new Mayoral Development Corporations and leadership of a land commission to examine what publicly owned land and other key strategic sites should be vested in the development corporation. It also includes creation of a Tees Valley Investment Fund. Further components of the deal include control of a new £15 million a year funding allocation (over 30 years), a comprehensive review and redesign of the education, skills and employment support system in the region and responsibility for a devolved approach to business support from 2017, to be developed in partnership with Government.
The Government announced in the 2017 Autumn Budget that it would enter into discussions with the Tees Valley to explore scope for further devolution to the area.
When: March 2016
Governance: combined authority with a new directly elected mayor
The deal includes devolved powers for franchising bus services, strategic planning and responsibility for a new Key Route Network of local authority roads. Funding to be devolved includes a devolved local transport budget, an additional £30million year to boost growth and responsibility for the 19+ adult education budget, which will be devolved from the 2018 to19 academic year. The Combined Authority will have joint responsibility with the Government to co-design the new National Work and Health Programme designed to focus on those with a health condition or disability and the very long term unemployed.
In addition to this, the Government committed to working with the combined authority on trade and investment services, realising the economic potential of specific local areas, and agreeing specific funding flexibilities with the joint ambition to be giving the Combined Authority a single pot to invest in its economic growth.
Governance:combined authority with a new directly elected mayor
The deal includes devolved responsibility for a consolidated transport budget with a multi-year settlement, responsibility for franchised bus services, and full devolution of the 19+ adult skills budget from 2018/19. The proposed combined authority will also establish a West Midlands Investment Fund bringing together resources for economic growth, skills and employability, regeneration, transport and housing, to which central government will allocate an additional £36 million a year funding over 30 years. Further components of the deal include devolution of business support programmes and commitments to explore greater data-sharing to support public service reform.
The Autumn Budget 2017 announced that the Government had agreed a devolution deal in principle with the West Midlands Mayor and Combined Authority to address local productivity barriers. This included £6million for a housing delivery taskforce, £5million for a construction skills training scheme and a £250million allocation from the Transforming Cities Fund to be spent on local intra-city transport priorities.
A consolidated, long-term budget for WMCA. This single settlement will be designed in the mold of government departments’ budgets: set at Spending Reviews and based on thematic functions. The extension of the West Midlands 100 per cent retention of business rate growth for an additional ten years.
Devolution of £100 million brownfield land funding, joint working between the government and WMCA through the West Midlands Public Land Taskforce, and £3.8 million to support homeless families. It also contains a new rail partnership with Great British Railways, devolution of the payment of the bus service operators grant, and establishment of the West Midlands as a ‘sandbox’ for transport innovation.
The deal will create a new Data Partnership and commitments to boost WMCA’s data capacity and capability.
On housing and regeneration, a new, wide-ranging Strategic Place Partnership between Homes England and WMCA and local leadership of the Affordable Homes Programme for the first time outside of London – worth at least £200 million to the West Midlands.
Devolution of non-apprenticeship adult skills functions and grant funding in the next Spending Review, local flexibilities, which will increase over time, over Free Courses for Jobs and Skills Bootcamps during this Spending Review, and establishment of a strong joint governance board to provide oversight of post-16 technical education and of WMCA as the central convenor of careers provision in the city region. A co-design approach to all future contracted employment support programmes and commitments to explore data sharing, supported by a new joint board.
Piloting the devolution of net zero funding, including for buildings’ retrofit, through allocation rather than competition in the period from 2025 onwards.
Governance: combined authority with a new directly elected mayor
The deal grants West Yorkshire £38 million a year (for 30 years) for the West Yorkshire Investment Fund (with a 25 per cent/75 per cent capital/revenue split) and funding to support the development of projects such as a British Library North in Leeds and regeneration opportunities in Bradford City Centre from Northern Powerhouse Rail. It also gives the combined authority control of the £65 million annual Adult Education Budget to align skills to the opportunities and needs of the local economy.
The Government has committed to work with West Yorkshire to develop a modern mass-transit system through access to a new five-year integrated transport settlement, access to bus franchising powers and £317 million from the Transforming Cities Fund to improve access to public transport, cycling and walking.
The first directly elected Mayor of West Yorkshire was elected in May 2021. Policing and crime powers have been transferred to the combined authority from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.