Consultations launched for six areas in Devolution Priority Programme

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has launched consultations for the six areas selected for its Devolution Priority Programme.

The six areas (with links to the consultations) are:

• Cumbria
• Cheshire and Warrington
• Norfolk and Suffolk
• Greater Essex
• Sussex and Brighton 
• Hampshire and the Solent

The consultations cover proposals to establish either mayoral combined authorities or mayoral combined county authorities. They include questions on the proposed geographies and how the mayoral combined (county) authorities will operate. 

The Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon, said: “We are committed to shifting power out of Whitehall and into our regions, ensuring local leaders have the tools they need to tackle local priorities and realise their areas’ potential as part of our Plan for Change. 

“Our Devolution Priority Programme will deliver that power at pace and I encourage local residents to be part of our ‘devolution revolution’ by contributing to these consultations.”

The Devolution Priority Programme is intended to bridge the gap between the English Devolution White Paper and the forthcoming English Devolution Bill.

The government is working towards mayoral elections in May 2026 for the areas that have joined it, the Ministry said.