The government has unveiled its English Devolution White Paper, introducing new powers for mayors aimed at driving growth, accelerating housebuilding, and improving transport in what it describes as a transformative “devolution revolution.”
Mayors in regions like Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region, and the North East will be among the first to receive new funding packages that cover housing, transport, local growth, and skills development.
This initiative seeks to decentralise decision-making from Westminster, enabling mayors to address local needs more effectively, tackle regional inequalities, and ensure that areas are better equipped to drive their own economic growth.
The White Paper also proposes the creation of Strategic Authorities, larger-than-local council structures that are intended to give communities more influence over decisions that directly affect them.
The government has expressed its preference for mayors to oversee these areas, with plans for mayoral elections set to begin in 2026.
These changes aim to offer more power and responsibility to local leaders and communities by giving them greater control to tackle pressing issues such as housing shortages, transport improvements, and skills gaps.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has called the proposed reforms a “fundamental change” that will help to raise living standards, improve public services, and address the urgent need for more housing across the country.
Minister Jim McMahon emphasised that the White Paper is part of a broader effort to reset the relationship between central and local government, moving away from a system where power is concentrated in Westminster. Instead, it seeks to provide mayors with the tools they need to make real, tangible changes in their communities.
Key areas of focus for the new powers include:
- Housing and planning: Helping to deliver 1.5 million homes as part of the government’s ambitious housing strategy.
- Transport: Creating more integrated local transport networks that connect communities and boost economic growth.
- Skills and employment support: Expanding training opportunities and improving access to quality jobs.
- Regional growth: Empowering regions to develop long-term growth plans that improve productivity and prosperity.
The White Paper also pledges a shift towards more sustainable local government structures, fairer funding for councils, and a more transparent, accountable way of allocating resources. The upcoming English Devolution Bill will formally embed these changes in law, ensuring that all regions across England can take control of their future.
Read more: ‘Devolution Revolution’ forges ahead with more powers for Mayors
