Norfolk County Council leader 'bitterly disappointed' at decision to scrap devolution deal
The first phase of schemes included new health facilities.
More than £600 million of investment to create jobs, homes and infrastructure has been scrapped, after the Government halted Norfolk’s devolution deal.
Norfolk County Council had secured an in-principle devolution deal in December 2023, to bring more powers and funding to the county – including a £20 million per year investment fund, for 30 years.
The Government has now informed the council that the current deal has been halted.
County council leader Councillor Kay Mason Billig said: “I am bitterly disappointed that the new Government has halted our deal.
“Ministers don’t support the idea of a Norfolk-only deal, or the idea of a county council leader, elected by the public – even though this would not have involved additional bureaucracy.
“For a Government that is keen on economic growth, this is a shortsighted and damaging decision.
“The Government says it supports devolution, yet it has killed off a deal that was ready to go: a deal that was going to improve lives in Norfolk, and grow our economy and start to address decades of historic under investment in our county.
“Norfolk deserves better than this. I intend to press the Government for talks on how we can salvage as many benefits as possible from our current deal – and ensure we don’t go to the back of the queue for new powers and funding.”
The deal Norfolk has agreed with the previous Government proposed investment of more than £600m over 30 years. It would have enabled Norfolk to invest in areas such as transport, skills and job opportunities, housing and regeneration, tailored to the needs of local people.
It would mean:
- Having a Council Leader who is directly elected by the public
- Targeting funding and resources to Norfolk’s priorities
- Unlocking housing and employment sites
- Investing in skills and attracting and retaining key businesses
The first phase of schemes included new health facilities in Kings Lynn and Norwich, funding to unlock major commercial and housing sites in a range of sites including Norwich, South Norfolk, Kings Lynn, Attleborough, Dereham and North Walsham. Together these schemes have the potential to unlock around £750m in investment, more than 1,000 jobs and hundreds of houses.
In the leader’s letter to local councillors, MPs, businesses and public sector partners, he said "After working closely with our district council colleagues, we had a range of shovel-ready projects and were all set to deliver them. We were ready to take over the adult skills budget and to start using £20 million per year of brownfield site funding. All we needed was confirmation that we could proceed.
I am, therefore, bitterly disappointed that the new Government has halted our deal. Ministers don’t support the idea of a Norfolk-only deal, or the idea of a county council leader, elected by the public – even though this would not have involved additional bureaucracy."