Devolution progress for Cheshire & Warrington, Cumbria and Lancashire

The Government has confirmed the Cheshire and Warrington and Cumbria regions as part of its devolution priority programme.

Meanwhile, Lancashire has today confirmed the creation of its new Combined County Authority (CCA).

Acceptance of Cheshire and Warrington means that the region’s plans to hold mayoral elections in May 2026 have been accepted by the Government.

The news has been welcomed by the leaders of the region’s three councils: Cllr Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West & Chester Council; Cllr Hans Mundry, Leader of Warrington Borough Council; and the Leader and Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council, Cllr Nick Mannion and Cllr Michael Gorman.

They said: “Today’s announcement is good news for our residents, communities and businesses.

“Cheshire and Warrington being part of the priority programme shows that government is confident in Cheshire and Warrington’s ability to seize the opportunities that a devolution agreement could bring.”

Cllr Hans Mundry

Their statement added: “It puts us at the front of the queue for significant power and funding and we want to seize this opportunity.

“Devolution would allow us to make more decisions here in Cheshire and Warrington, rather than decisions about our region and its almost one million residents being made in London.”

Confirming Cheshire and Warrington’s inclusion among the devolution priority areas, Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, told Parliament “Today, I am delighted to announce on six new potential evolution areas which will be part of our devolution priority programme with a view to mayoral elections in May 2026.

“These places will get a fast track ticket to drive real change in their area, while the devolution can sound check it, the outcome is simple.

“It’s a plan for putting more money in people’s pockets. It’s a plan for quicker, better, cheaper transport designed with local people in mind, a plan for putting politics back in the service of working people.

“I can confirm to members across the House that the places on the devolution priority programme are Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Greater Essex, Hampshire and Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk and Sussex and Brighton.”

She added that Lancashire was “already deciding its mayoral devolution options” and the Government would “look at their proposals in the autumn, in parallel with the priority programme”.

Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer, said: “This is good news for Cumberland and Cumbria as a whole. 

“Being included in this priority programme is a vote of confidence in our ability to drive investment and deliver for local communities.”

Westmorland and Furness Council Leader, Cllr Jonathan Brook, said: “We are pleased the Government has recognised that Westmorland and Furness, and Cumbria as a whole, deserves this opportunity to drive forward economic growth by being included in the priority programme for devolution.

“We encourage local people to respond to the Government’s soon to launch consultation as we will carefully consider local opinion before a final decision on establishing a strategic mayoral authority is made in the autumn.”

And today, Lancashire has confirmed the creation of its new Combined County Authority (CCA).

The Statutory Instrument which enabled the formation of the new body passed through the final legislative process in Parliament late last week and has now been formally signed by Jim McMahon, Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution.

The creation of the CCA is a hugely important step as it will see powers currently held by central government passed to decision makers in Lancashire.

Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackpool Council have been working together to create the new CCA.

The first meeting of the new authority will be held at County Hall in Preston on Tuesday, March 11.

The board is made up of representatives of the three councils alongside two district council representatives and the chairman of Lancashire’s Business Board.

Cllr Phillippa Williamson, Leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “This is  a hugely significant achievement for our county, but it is also just our first step in bringing more powers to Lancashire to benefit both our residents and businesses.”

Cllr Phil Riley, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “It’s been a long haul but this final step is evidence of the ability of the three major councils to work together for the betterment of the whole of Lancashire.”

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “This is a historic moment for the county and for Blackpool.

“For our residents it means we can make more decisions about local issues locally and we have already seen some investment in Blackpool as a result of this.”