North East leaders’ £4bn Christmas wish has been granted – with a massive devolution deal finally agreed with the Government and hailed as a “step change in our levelling up journey”.
After years of political rancour and false dawns, the region is at last back within touching distance of a major settlement to bring vital decision-making powers and huge funding here. Under the deal announced today there would be a significant shake-up of the North East’s political landscape, with a new mayor to be elected in 2024 to serve the two million people living in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham – mending a divide between the north and south of the region.
A proposed North East Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) would be given a £1.4bn investment fund to be delivered over 30 years, control of up to £563m to improve the North East’s rail services up to 2027, £17.4m to accelerate the building of new homes on brownfield land, and a further £20m for regeneration projects. Local leaders would also have the power to bring the North East’s bus network back into public hands and full control over the areas’ £60m-a-year adult education and skills budget, while the deal is also expected to include the creation of a ‘green superport’ and has been touted as the most generous per head in the country.
