Bringing better jobs, better transport, smarter investment
Now's the time
An area-based approach is the key to success
Cheshire and Warrington is a successful place but we also face pressure in areas such as transport, skills and housing. We need affordable and convenient transport for residents in our rural areas and our towns, large and small; affordable homes in the right places, close to employment and services, and a workforce with the skills our businesses need.
People don’t live their lives according to council boundaries; they live, work, learn and spend time in different places, so a regional approach to improving things like skills shortages, housing and transport makes sense.
We have written to Government asking for the region to be included in its priority programme for devolution. This would involve setting up a Combined Authority by May 2026 and electing a Mayor for Cheshire and Warrington.
Devolution is about national government transferring powers and resources away from London and into regions. It’s not about merging councils or taking decisions away from councils. Individual councils would retain their current responsibilities and continue to provide services for local people.
Preparing for devolution
Before any agreement, views will be sought from the region’s residents, communities and businesses on how devolution could benefit Cheshire and Warrington. Any formal devolution agreement would need to be agreed by each council as well as the Cheshire & Warrington Joint Committee, which provides leadership on strategic economic issues for the region.
This website has been set up to share information about devolution and it will be updated regularly.
The Joint Committee
"We welcome the Government’s commitment to devolving powers away from London to regions like Cheshire and Warrington.
The Joint Committee, which is made up of Leaders and Deputy Leaders of Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester and Warrington councils, alongside the Chair of Cheshire and Warrington Business Advisory Board, provides leadership on strategic economic issues for the region.
We’re ambitious for our region and we believe devolution could bring significant power and funding that would benefit our residents, communities and businesses. It would allow us to make more decisions here in Cheshire and Warrington, rather than decisions about our region and its almost 1 million residents being made in London. "
Cllr Louise Gittins
Cllr Hans Mundry
Cllr Nick Mannion
Cllr Michael Gorman
