Historic billion pound devolution deal agreed for East Midlands
It's for Derbyshire, Derby, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
Last updated 30th Aug 2022
Local leaders in large parts of the East Midlands will be given new powers to improve transport, boost skills training and build more attractive and affordable homes through a historic, first of a kind county devolution deal signed with the government today.
Levelling Up Secretary Greg Clark will sign the deal with Derbyshire and Derby, Nottinghamshire and Nottingham, which will see the area appoint a directly elected mayor, responsible for delivering local priorities, backed by a new ÂŁ38 million per year investment fund, totalling ÂŁ1.14 billion over 30 years.
The deal delivers on a commitment made in the government’s Levelling Up White Paper published early this year to shift in powers and resources away from Whitehall to local communities.
A new Mayoral Combined County Authority will be created, with control over the core adult education budget, to boost skills in the region, as well as the ability to increase control over transport infrastructure.
Levelling up Secretary Greg Clark said:
“The East Midlands is renowned for its economic dynamism and it has the potential to lead the Britain’s economy of the future. For a long time I have believed that the East Midlands should have the powers and devolved budgets that other areas in Britain have been benefitting from and I am thrilled to be able to bring that about in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
“I am impressed by the way councils in the region have come together to agree the first deal of this kind in the country, which will benefit residents in all of the great cities, towns and villages across the area of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.”
The new East Midlands Combined County Authority will also be granted control of over ÂŁ17 million of additional funding for the building of new homes on brownfield land in 2024/25, subject to sufficient eligible projects for funding being identified, and a further ÂŁ18 million has been agreed to support housing priorities and drive Net Zero Ambitions into the area.
In a joint statement, Ben Bradley MP, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, Chris Poulter, Leader of Derby City Council, and David Mellen, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said:
“We welcome the £1.14 billion devolution deal from the Government on offer for our region. It’s fantastic news.
“We want to make the most of every penny so this can be used to make a real difference to people’s lives.
“As Leaders, we have all fought for a fairer share for our cities and counties, and a bigger voice for our area, to give us the clout and the influence we deserve, and to help us live up to our full potential.
“This deal would help make that a reality, creating more and better jobs through greater investment in our area, with increased economic growth, better transport, housing, skills training, and an enhanced greener environment, as we move towards being carbon neutral. These are what we all want to see, and we will work together for the common good of the East Midlands".
Implementation of this deal is dependent on Parliamentary approval of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill and necessary secondary legislation, as well as a public consultation.