• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Wednesday February 5 2025
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Wiltshire and Swindon miss out on government’s devolution plans

Neither Swindon or Wiltshire has been included in the government’s devolution plans, the deputy prime minister has announced.

Angela Rayner has told the councils of Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset, and latecomer Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) that their joint application to the Devolution Priority Programme as the Heart of Wessex mayoral strategic authority has not been accepted.

Meanwhile Swindon – which has a standing invitation to join the Heart of Wessex but has also been in talks with Oxfordshire and Berkshire to form a Thames Valley mayoral strategic authority – also seems to have been missed off the government’s priority list.

Under the government’s devolution plans, strategic authorities will have greater powers over major transport and infrastructure projects and economic development.

Wiltshire Council had reservations about forming a mayoral strategic authority – especially around having an elected mayor for the region – but has lamented the decision as the councils will likely miss out on central government funding.

The four councils forming Heart of Wessex had submitted a comprehensive proposal outlining the transformative benefits devolution could bring.

In a joint statement, council leaders said: “Despite the fact that we felt government were moving too quickly to deliver devolution, and our discussion about the format of mayoral strategic authority as the most appropriate solution for our region, we worked collaboratively with ministers throughout to deliver a strong proposal.

“Therefore, the decision not to include Wessex within the Devolution Priority Programme is extremely disappointing.

“We feel the Wessex proposal aligned with the aims of the White Paper, encompassing a population of approximately 1.9 million, with the region well-placed to support the government’s growth priorities, particularly in clean energy, defence, digital technologies, life sciences, and tourism.

“The area could now miss out on essential funding, and combined with the likely defunding of pan-regional partnerships and the substantial reduction in the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the fact that this will now be delayed when we are ready to go is deeply regrettable.”

The first tranche of local authorities to form a mayoral strategic authority include Cumbria, Cheshire & Warrington, Norfolk & Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex & Brighton and Hampshire & the Solent.