Devolution in the Thames Valley and FAQs

Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. It will help ensure that more decisions are made locally and closer to the communities and businesses they effect.

If devolution is agreed, it would see the creation of a new combined authority – a mayoral strategic authority (MSA) – made up of a number of council areas, which would be led by a directly elected mayor.

Leaders from across the Thames Valley are progressing plans to pursue an MSA for the region. Through an expression of interest letter to government, leaders will set out a shared ambition to secure new powers and funding.

It will help ensure that more decisions are made locally and closer to the communities and businesses they effect.

It will enable local councils to plan and deliver more integrated and effective transport, infrastructure, the right type of housing – with an emphasis on social housing – creating the conditions for faster, more inclusive growth across the region.

Critical and wider public services will continue to be delivered locally.

On 16 December 2024, the government published a white paper on a national programme of devolution and local government reorganisation.

The government believes that devolution over a large strategic geography can drive economic growth for that area while delivering better public services for residents.

The Thames Valley is one of the UK’s strongest economies, but fragmented governance makes it harder to plan for housing, infrastructure and skills across council boundaries.

Devolution gives the region the ability to plan and deliver at scale, unlocking new opportunities for coordinated investment of housing, roads and public transport, expand skills and training, and ensure research and innovation translate into jobs and growth across every part of the region.

Government grants devolved powers to mayoral authorities to act strategically across key areas such as:

Transport and infrastructure investment

Strategic housing and spatial planning

Skills and training to match local workforce needs

Business support and inward investment

Low-carbon energy and net-zero deliver

Economic development and innovation

These powers are agreed locally, with decisions made collectively by the mayor and local leaders.

No. Councils will be responsible for delivering day to day services such as waste collection, social care, schools and local planning.

The new MSA will only take on strategic functions that benefit from coordination across the wider area, for example, regional transport or long-term infrastructure planning.

Yes. Residents will continue to contact their local councils for services. The MSA area focuses on regional coordination, not local service delivery.

It will help ensure that more decisions are made locally and closer to the communities and businesses they effect.

Devolution will deliver visible benefits, including:

Faster investment in transport, housing and skills

Low-carbon transport upgrades along the M4 and M40 corridors

More affordable, sustainable housing in the right places

Better connectivity and coordinated infrastructure to reduce congestion and improve access to jobs

Local council leaders will sit on the MSA board alongside the mayor, ensuring every area within the MSA has a voice. Decisions will reflect local priorities across our region rather than being made centrally. The mayor would have a place on the national council of mayors representing the voice of the region. This council will meet regularly, together with government ministers, to discuss key issues.

The MSA’s role is to coordinate investment fairly across the region. Decisions will be made jointly by local leaders to ensure towns, cities and rural communities all benefit. Powers will not sit in one place they will be shared and focused on the MSA area.

Health services remain with the NHS, but better housing, transport and jobs will support healthier, more connected communities.

For an MSA to benefit from devolution, the government requires a directly elected mayor. A mayor provides a single, visible point of accountability and ensures local representation in national discussions on growth and investment.

The mayor is held to account by:

A board of local council leaders, who decide major strategies and priorities together

A scrutiny committee made up of councillors from across the region

Direct accountability to voters through regular elections

No. The MSA consolidates strategic powers currently split across councils, allowing faster, simpler and more coherent decision-making. It’s designed to deliver outcomes, not be an additional administrative layer.

Without devolution, decisions about major investment and transport will continue to be made in government. Devolved regions will have greater control, resources, and flexibility to shape their own future.

A Thames Valley MSA has the potential to:

Unlock up to £18.7 billion for the Thames Valley economy by 2040, generating £7 billion in additional annual tax revenue

Support new housing and transport investment across the region

Ensure research and innovation lead to new business growth and jobs

Promote inclusive, sustainable growth that benefits every community

Businesses will benefit from a clearer, faster route into regional decision-making, more predictable investment in infrastructure, and stronger support for skills, innovation and export growth.

The Thames Valley already leads in six of the eight national priority sectors in the government’s Industrial Strategy — life sciences, digital and technology, advanced manufacturing, clean energy and net zero, finance and professional services.

Devolution will strengthen those sectors and attract further investment.

Funding would come from:

Devolved central government budgets

Locally retained business rates

New private and institutional investment

The Thames Valley is already a net contributor to the UK economy. Devolution will allow the region to do even more — delivering local growth that benefits and supports residents and businesses, as well as strengthening national finances.

Devolution is designed to increase funding flexibility. It enables longer-term investment deals and more control over how funding is used locally, rather than relying on short-term government grants.

Discussions on a Thames Valley MSA have included local authorities in Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Swindon – no decisions have been made. Councils will debate the expression of interest in their meetings during November and December.

If agreed, this letter will be submitted to government at the end of the year.

Subject to ongoing discussions with government, detailed proposals will then be developed in the coming months for consideration by local councils and partners.

Regular updates will be shared on these webpages and by individual councils as the proposals develop.