{{politics of England}} The '''Devolution Priority Programme''' was announced by the UK government in 2025 in line with the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. The areas included within the programme will have certain devolved functions transferred to them from central government via the establishment of new combined authorities (CAs) or combined county authorities (CCAs).
==History== In February 2025 six areas were announced for the programme.<ref name="Devolution Revolution">{{cite web |last1=MacMakon |first1=Jim |last2=Rayner |first2=Angela |title=Devolution revolution: six areas to elect Mayors for first time |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/devolution-revolution-six-areas-to-elect-mayors-for-first-time |website=GOV.UK |publisher=UK Government |access-date=9 October 2025 |language=en}}</ref> In December 2025, mayoral elections were delayed from 2026 to 2028 in four of the priority programme areas.<ref name="BBC Delay">{{cite news |last1=McKiernan |first1=Jennifer |title=New mayoral elections to be delayed in four areas of England |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yjg2r7z9zo |access-date=1 March 2026 |work=BBC News |date=4 December 2025}}</ref>
==Summary== {{As of|2026|05}}, the status of the programe is as follows: {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Authority ! Status ! class="unsortable"|Constituent councils ! {{abbr|LGR|Associated local government reorganisation}} ! {{abbr|S.I.|Statutory instrument}} ! Created ! First election ! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- | Cheshire and Warrington CA | bgcolor=#EAFFE6 | Formally established, awaiting mayoral powers | {{hlist|Cheshire East|Cheshire West and Chester|Warrington}} | None | Made | 24 February 2026 | 2027 | <ref name="Cheshire and Cumbria">{{cite news |last1=Onsori |first1=Zahra |title=Two strategic authorities formed |url=https://www.lgcplus.com/politics/devolution-and-economic-growth/two-strategic-authorities-formed-27-02-2026/ |access-date=1 March 2026 |work=Local Government Chronicle (LGC) |date=27 February 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Watterson |first1=Kaleigh |title=Cheshire and Warrington combined authority comes into force |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgjpzpyjl4o |access-date=1 March 2026 |work=BBC News |date=25 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority Order 2026 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/159/contents |website=legislation.gov.uk |access-date=26 February 2026 |date=23 February 2026}}</ref> |- | Cumbria CA | bgcolor=#EAFFE6 | Formally established, awaiting mayoral powers | {{hlist|Cumberland|Westmorland and Furness}} | None | Made | 24 February 2026 | 2027 | <ref name="Cheshire and Cumbria"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jonny |first1=Manning |title=Cumbria Combined Authority formally created by government |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3dzpy2p3ddo |access-date=26 February 2026 |work=BBC News |date=24 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Cumbria Combined Authority Order 2026 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/158/contents |website=legislation.gov.uk |access-date=26 February 2026 |date=23 February 2026}}</ref> |- | Greater Essex CCA | bgcolor=#FFFBE6 | Not yet formally established | {{hlist|Essex|Thurrock|Southend-on-Sea}} | Yes | bgcolor=#F2F2F2 | | Expected 2026 | Expected 2028 | <ref name="BBC Delay"/> |- | Hampshire and the Solent CCA | bgcolor=#FFFBE6 | Not yet formally established | {{hlist|Hampshire|Isle of Wight|Portsmouth|Southampton}} | Yes | Laid | Expected 2026 | Expected 2028 | <ref name="BBC Delay"/> |- | Norfolk and Suffolk CCA | bgcolor=#FFFBE6 | Not yet formally established | {{hlist|Norfolk|Suffolk}} | Yes | bgcolor=#F2F2F2 | | Expected 2026 | Expected 2028 | <ref name="BBC Delay"/> |- | Sussex and Brighton CCA | bgcolor=#EAFFE6 | Formally established, awaiting mayoral powers | {{hlist|Brighton and Hove|East Sussex|West Sussex}} | Yes | Made | 26 March 2026 | 2028 | <ref name="BBC Delay"/><ref>{{cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=The Sussex and Brighton Combined County Authority Regulations 2026 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/362/contents |website=legislation.gov.uk |access-date=1 June 2026}}</ref> |}
==See also== *Upcoming structural changes to local government in England
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:English devolution Category:History of local government in England Category:2025 in England
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