The devolution deal

The deal sets out the new powers, funding and responsibilities which will be transferred from central Government to West Yorkshire. Read the full details.

On 11 March 2020 West Yorkshire leaders and Government signed a ‘minded to’ devolution deal for West Yorkshire.

The deal sets out the new powers, funding and responsibilities which will be transferred from central Government to West Yorkshire. It enables the five councils and the Mayoral Combined Authority to take more decisions on the issues that affect local communities including transport, adult education, skills and jobs, infrastructure, housing and regeneration, and the region’s economic recovery.

The deal and incorporates findings from the eight-week public consultation carried out by the West Yorkshire councils and the Combined Authority over the summer 2020 — the largest ever public consultation on English regional devolution with over 4,400 responses. The findings from the consultation were supported by most of the people who participated.

The devolution deal is crucial for us to fully realise our vision for West Yorkshire and meet our regional challenges. Without a deal we would have less influence with government, less funding to spend on local priorities, loss of access to funding, and would be an ending to funding deals. 

The deal will give the Combined Authority and Mayor new powers and funding including: 

  • control of £38 million per year allocation of gainshare investment funding over 30 years, to drive growth and take forward our priorities 
  • design of a five-year integrated transport settlement starting in 2022/23, and agreement to explore West Yorkshire Mass Transit 
  • gaining new powers on transport, including easier access to bus franchising and a regional approach to control of a Key Route Network 
  • devolution of Adult Education powers and the Adult Education Budget to shape local skills provision to respond to local needs 
  • £25 million Heritage Fund to support the establishment of a potential ‘British Library North’
  • new powers on planning, focusing on zero carbon
  • £3.2 million to support development of a pipeline of housing sites across West Yorkshire 
  • transport infrastructure development and funding for the Bradford Station Masterplan and the Outline Business Case for Leeds Station redevelopment 
  • ongoing partnership with the Environment Agency on identifying and addressing flood risk management requirements with £101 million allocated for West Yorkshire flood risk management schemes 
  • £200,000 for the Yorkshire Leaders Board 
  • £75,000 West Yorkshire Local Digital Skills Partnership 
  • piloting the new National Green Infrastructure Standards with Natural England and DEFRA 
  • transfer of Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) functions to the new Mayor in 2021 
  • commitment to working in partnership to explore an “Act Early” Health Institute 
  • strengthened collaboration and partnership with Government.

Related information

  1. Becoming a Mayoral Combined Authority

    Through partnership we are determined to unleash our region’s full potential and in doing so raise living standards for our communities while making a full contribution to the UK economy. We are now taking the next step to deepen our partnership through this devolution deal which will unlock significant long-term funding and, critically, give our region greater freedom to decide how best to meet local needs and create new opportunity.

  3. The success story so far...

    West Yorkshire is strongest when it works together to deliver for all its communities. Our partnership has grown and strengthened over more than a decade. Evidence of that partnership’s success is all around us.