PRESS RELEASE : Full devolution to be delivered across the North [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 22 September 2024.

The government is continuing to deliver devolution for all corners of the country, with a commitment to deliver full devolution across the North.

• Government will prioritise remaining Northern areas in the next wave of devolution deals
• Progression for deals covering Lancashire, Greater Lincolnshire, Hull and East Yorkshire and Devon and Torbay announced earlier this week will be prioritised
• Backing advanced manufacturing in the West Midlands and life sciences in West Yorkshire by releasing this year’s funding for the Mayors’ Investment Zones

The government is continuing to deliver devolution for all corners of the country, with a commitment to deliver full devolution across the North.

The next wave of devolution deals will work to ensure the remaining areas in the region not yet benefitting from greater devolved powers are supported to deliver agreements that work for their communities.

The commitment confirmed today follows the government’s announcement earlier this week that four devolution agreements will progress in Hull and East Yorkshire, Greater Lincolnshire, Lancashire, and Devon and Torbay.

The government will also release this year’s funding for two Investment Zones, delivering high quality jobs and attracting private sector investment, focusing on advanced manufacturing in the West Midlands and life sciences in West Yorkshire.

Investment Zones have been established in a number of Combined Authorities in England, combining tax incentives and flexible funding for research and development, skills, business support, local infrastructure and planning.

Further government action to deliver devolution includes:

• The English Devolution Bill announced in the King’s Speech;
• Establishing the Council of the Nations and Regions, with more details to be announced in due course;
• Asking existing mayors to develop Local Growth Plans for their areas to help drive regional growth. Greater Manchester, one of the places where devolution has existed for the longest and the powers are deepest, has been one of the UK’s fastest growing areas over the last 20 years, and is forecast to grow by more than the national average in coming years; and
• The devolution agreements announced this week means that over 60% of the country will be covered by a devolution deal.