Government announces four new devolution deals, calls off two previously-struck agreements

In a statement announcing the agreements, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government also revealed that devolution deals agreed with Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council under the previous government have been called off.

However, the government intends to continue discussions over devolution in Norfolk & Suffolk.

Under the deals, Greater Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire and Hull will become combined authorities with regional mayors, while Lancashire and Devon & Torbay will become non-mayoral combined county authorities.

In addition, the government said it was 'minded to' approve level 2 agreements with Cornwall Council, Surrey County Council, Warwickshire County Council and Buckinghamshire Council.

Mayoral elections are now on the books for May 2025 for the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority.

The deal, which was struck between Whitehall and the North East and North Lincolnshire unitary councils and Lincolnshire County Council, will see £720m invested in the region over the next 30 years.

"This will be for priority areas of jobs and skills, housing and highways, transport, the environment and nature, net zero, digital improvements, and innovation and trade," a statement from Lincolnshire County Council said.

There is also an initial capital funding pot of £28m, of which £20m is allocated to projects in the Lincolnshire County Council area.

The Hull & East Yorkshire deal covers Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council and will see the creation of Hull and East Yorkshire's Mayoral Combined Authority. Mayoral elections for the Yorkshire combined authority are also expected to take place in May 2025.

The combined county authority in Lancashire will cover Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackpool Council and will be established next year.

The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority, which will cover Devon County Council and Torbay Council, is also expected to hold its first meetings early next year.

The government also announced the release of this year's funding for two Investment Zones in the West Midlands and West Yorkshire.

Commenting on the deals, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: "This is only the first step of our major ambition to drive forward our devolution revolution and ensure we empower more communities and strengthen the existing powers of our brilliant mayors."

The leader of Norfolk County Council, one of the local authorities that had its devolution deal withdrawn, has said he is "bitterly disappointed" at the decision.

Cllr Kay Mason Billig said the region has lost out on £600m worth of investment over a 30-year period as ministers "don't support the idea of a Norfolk-only deal, or the idea of a county council leader, elected by the public - even though this would not have involved additional bureaucracy".

He added: "For a Government that is keen on economic growth, this is a shortsighted and damaging decision.

"The Government says it supports devolution, yet it has killed off a deal that was ready to go: a deal that was going to improve lives in Norfolk, and grow our economy and start to address decades of historic under investment in our county."

Adam Carey