Devolution in England
The nutshell
Devolution in England means moving some power from central government in London to local areas. In many places a directly elected mayor now works with nearby councils to decide things like transport, housing and adult skills.
Every fact on this page comes from official government sources and non-partisan research. Each source tag — like HoC — opens where a fact comes from.
The basics
What devolution means
Devolution means central government in London handing some of its power to local areas. Instead of every decision being made nationally, local leaders get a say over things like transport, housing and adult skills. In England this has mostly happened area by area, through agreements called devolution deals.HoC
Combined authorities and metro-mayors
Many deals set up a combined authority — a group of neighbouring councils that work together over a wider area. Some are led by a metro-mayor, a mayor the public elects directly to run the whole area.HoC The first deal, for Greater Manchester, was agreed in November 2014. By July 2024 deals had been agreed with 22 areas of England.HoC
How much of England is covered
Devolution does not yet reach everywhere. GOV.UK records that by 2024 devolution deals covered 61% of England's population, just over 34 million people.GOV The government's 2024 English Devolution White Paper set out a plan for every part of England to have its own strategic authority.GOV
Changing how councils are set up
The white paper also proposes changing local government itself. In many areas a county council and smaller district councils share the work between two tiers. The Institute for Government reports the plan is to replace those two tiers with single unitary councils, usually covering at least 500,000 people.IfG
- Local leaders can shape transport, housing and skills for the local area, instead of every choice being made in London
- A directly elected mayor is one named person the public can hold to account for a whole city region
- Each area can take on the powers that fit it, through its own devolution deal
- Powers differ from area to area, which the 2024 white paper describes as an inconsistent patchwork
- Devolution passes power to a wider regional level, which is not the same as giving more power to each small council
- Some parts of England still have no mayor or deal, so devolution does not cover the whole country
The deep end6 min
How devolution in England works
Devolution in England has been built area by area. Central government negotiates a devolution deal with a group of local councils, and each deal lists the powers and money that move from central government to the local level. The House of Commons Library records that the first deal, for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, was agreed in November 2014, and that by July 2024 deals had been agreed with 22 areas.HoCThe powers vary from deal to deal, and often cover transport, housing, planning and adult skills.
Combined authorities, metro-mayors and strategic authorities
Most deals create a combined authority, where several neighbouring councils pool some powers over a wider region. The Commons Library describes a metro-mayor as a directly elected mayor who leads such a combined authority, with powers set out in the deal agreed with the government.HoC The 2024 English Devolution White Paper renames these bodies strategic authorities and sets a goal of every part of England having one. GOV.UK records that by 2024 devolution deals already covered 61% of England's population, about 34 million people.GOV
Reorganising councils
The white paper also proposes changing the councils underneath. Many areas still run on two tiers, where a county council and several district councils each handle different local services. The Institute for Government reports that the government plans to replace two-tier areas with single unitary councils, and suggested each should usually cover at least 500,000 people, with some exceptions.IfG Merging councils in this way changes which body runs local services in those areas.
What each side argues
Supporters of devolution, including the government, argue that decisions on transport, housing and skills are better made by local leaders who know the area. The 2024 English Devolution White Paper sets out that case and aims to give mayors more power and funding.GOV
The debate also includes cautions. The white paper itself calls the current spread of deals an inconsistent patchwork, because the powers held vary from area to area.GOV A second question is scale. A strategic authority covers a wide region, so passing power to it is not the same as handing more control to each small council. The reorganisation of two-tier councils into larger unitary councils, reported by the Institute for Government, is also recent, so its long-term effects are not yet clear.IfG