The North East of England will soon enjoy the economic benefits
of a £1.4bn investment as legislation is laid in Parliament to
implement a new devolution deal.
The reforms will provide a directly elected mayor for seven local
authority areas across the North East with the first election
taking place in May 2024. It will result in new powers and major
new funding for the region, including the largest investment fund
of any of the deals announced since the Levelling Up White
Paper’s publication in February 2022.
Over 30 years, £1.4 billion will help to level up all seven local
authorities in the North East; Northumberland, Newcastle upon
Tyne, North Tyneside, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland and
County Durham. Today’s legislation also establishes them as
a new combined authority which will have control of up to £563
million to shape and improve local rail and bus services.
It will give greater power to local leaders by allowing them to
shape adult education provision in a way that meets the needs of
business and the community while allowing them to kick start
regeneration by supporting the construction of affordable homes
on brownfield sites.
Minister for Levelling Up, , said:
Today is an important milestone for communities across the North
East as their landmark devolution deal moves one step closer to
becoming a reality.
The reason we’re so excited for this to get over the line is
because a major part of levelling up is giving local people, who
know their areas best, the levers and money they need to improve
their areas. That’s exactly what this deal does - from Sedgefield
to the Scottish Border - providing new decision-making powers,
billions in funding and a new mayor who can champion their area
on behalf of the two million who live there.
The political leaders of the seven councils and North of Tyne
Combined Authority said in a joint statement:
It‘s exciting that the devolution deal we secured is now moving
through Parliament. It’s an important final step before the
formation of our new combined authority.
As a group of leaders we are working together already to put
plans into place to deliver for our residents, businesses and
communities. That collaboration means we will hit the ground
running and deliver results for the people of this region.
The new powers and funding we negotiated will mean important
decisions about our region will be made here, in the North East.
This is set to be a transformative year for the North East.
The region boasts long standing sector strengths in advanced
manufacturing and clean energy which continues to grow. Aligned
to the arc of innovation - running from Northumberland down to
Sunderland and Durham, with opportunities along the Tyne corridor
– the devolution deal will empower the region and its people by
giving them more control, money and opportunities to improve
their communities.
This devolution deal is part of a plan to bring long-term change,
delivering a brighter future for Britain and the North East of
England, improving economic security and opportunity for
everyone.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The Order implementing the North East devolution deal and
establishing the new mayoral combined authority is subject to
Parliamentary approval before it can come into force.
- The North East Mayoral Combined Authority will replace the
existing North of Tyne Mayoral Combined Authority and the
non-mayoral North East Combined Authority.
- The City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS)
Programme is a five-year £5.7 billion government investment in
the local transport networks of eight key city regions in England
from 2022/23 to 2026/27. The programme provides eligible Mayoral
Combined Authorities with integrated and long-term funding model
that allows elected leaders to drive forward their public and
sustainable transport priorities.
- The North East will receive £17.4 million to support and
accelerate the building of new homes on brownfield land, as well
as £20 million to level up and kick start regeneration.
