Cheshire and Warrington join Government’s devolution priority programme

The Cheshire and Warrington region is to join the Government’s devolution priority programme after its three local authorities agreed to pursue greater powers earlier this year.

The region, comprising the three local authorities of Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington, is now set to hold its first mayoral elections in May 2026 as part of its devolution deal.

The news has been welcomed by the leaders of the region’s three councils: Cllr Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West & Chester Council; Cllr Hans Mundry, Leader of Warrington Borough Council; and the Leader and Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council, Cllr Nick Mannion and Cllr Michael Gorman, who said:

“Cheshire and Warrington being part of the priority programme shows that government is confident in Cheshire and Warrington’s ability to seize the opportunities that a devolution agreement could bring. It puts us at the front of the queue for significant power and funding and we want to seize this opportunity.

“Devolution 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.”

Under the plans, Cheshire and Warrington residents would elect a Mayor for the region, and government would grant greater powers in certain key areas to local government. Local authorities would continue to exist and maintain their current powers over local services and areas such as planning.

The move follows the launch of the government’s Devolution White Paper in Autumn 2024 which set out plans for expanding the powers of existing regional mayors, and making regional devolution deals the default for local government.