Devolution to Cheshire and Warrington

The first mayor of Cheshire and Warrington will be elected on 6 May 2027, leading a new strategic authority for the region. He or she will hold powers over skills, transport, planning, economic development across the three local areas of Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, and Warrington. 

Who are the candidates for mayor of Cheshire and Warrington? 

Dan Price, the current Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the area has been announced as Labour’s candidate for the election.  

Ben Fletcher is the Conservative candidate. He currently works as chief finance officer for an online retailer and stood to be MP of Crewe and Nantwich in the 2024 general election.

The Green party, Liberal Democrats, and Reform party have not yet announced their candidates. 

What is the history of devolution in Cheshire and Warrington? 

Discussions around a devolution deal began in 2015 when the former leader of Cheshire East council called for the devolution of some powers to a more local level and began talks with the leaders of Warrington and Cheshire West and Chester councils.¹ BBC, Cheshire East council leader wants devolution for county, 28 May 2015, retrieved 1 October 2026, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-32905913  Despite initial opposition among councillors in Warrington who opposed the mayoral model and the proposed geography,² TMJ, Elected mayor demand spikes devolution deal, 13 June 2016, retrieved 1 October 2026, https://www.themj.co.uk/elected-mayor-demand-spikes-devolution-deal   , ³ BBC, Warrington councillors agree to devolution with elected mayor, 19 October 2016, retrieved 1 October 2026, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-37707352   in January 2017 the council voted to join with the two Cheshire councils’ proposal. The Warrington council leader called it a “better and simpler deal”.⁴ BBC, Warrington to join Cheshire devolution bid, 14 February 2017, retrieved 1 October 2026, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-38969899   The process remained stalled for the next seven years, with local leaders complaining of a lack of engagement from central government.⁵ LGC, Area in-line for devo deal has three years’ unanswered letters, https://www.lgcplus.com/politics/devolution-and-economic-growth/area-in-line-for-devo-deal-has-three-years-unanswered-letters-03-02-2023/

In 2025, Cheshire and Warrington was selected for the new Devolution Priority Programme (DPP), a government initiative to accelerate mayoral devolution in areas which meet certain eligibility criteria.⁶ Institute for Government, The Devolution Priority Programme (DPP), 15 December 2025, retrieved 1 October 2026, https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/explainer/devolution-priority-programme-dpp  Following public consultation between February and April, the government announced in July 2025 that the necessary statutory tests had been met and that mayoral devolution could proceed in the area. 

Once all three councils formally consented to the establishment of a Mayoral Combined Authority (also now known as a Mayoral Strategic Authority) in September 2025,⁷ Cheshire East Council, All go for devolution as councils back Cheshire and Warrington agreement, 25 November 2025, retrieved 29 September 2026, https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_information/media_hub/media_releases/25112025-all-go-for-devolution-as-councils-back-ch…;  a statutory instrument creating the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority (CWCA) was laid before parliament on 28 January 2026⁸ Hansard, Draft Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority Order 2026, 28 January 2026, retrieved 22 September 2026, https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-01-28/debates/2fe40d02-29bb-483f-95f6-2b230f8487cd/DraftCheshireAndWarringtonCombinedAuthorityOrder2026Dra…;  and came into force on 24 February 2026.⁹ UK Government, The Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority Order 2026, 23 February 2026, retrieved 22 September 2026, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/159 

A mayoral election was initially planned to take place in May 2026 but it was delayed by a year to coincide with council elections in Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester. 

What is the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority? 

The Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority (CWCA) is a legal body bringing together three local authorities: Cheshire East council, Cheshire West and Chester council, and Warrington Borough council. Each council is a constituent member of the combined authority and appoints two of its councillors onto the board.¹⁰ Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority Order 2026, legislation.gov.uk, retrieved 14 January 2025, www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2025/9780348266740

The role of the CWCA board is to set a regional strategy, approve budgets, agree investments and ensure compliance with the governance framework. In Apri 2026, the board agreed that Louise Gittins, Labour leader of Cheshire West and Chester council, would be Chair and Nick Manion, Labour leader of Cheshire East council, would be her deputy. They will hold these roles until the election of the mayor in May 2027. 

Cheshire and Warrington has a population of 1,014,900¹ ONS, Population estimates for England and Wales: mid-2025, 29 July 2026, retrieved 1 October 2026, https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/bulletins/populationestimatesforenglandandwales/mid202…;  and generates £37 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) per year.² UK Government, Cheshire and Warrington devolution consultation, 17 July 2025, retrieved 1 October 2026, https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/cheshire-and-warrington-devolution/cheshire-and-warrington-devolution-consultation#what-this-means-for-ch…;  CWCA has close economic ties with neighbouring Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester. Together the three regions have an annual economic output of £150 billion.³ Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Northern Arc, retrieved 28/09/2026, https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/economy/northern-arc/ 

The combined authority is also part of The Great North, a partnership between the mayors of the north of England. They promote the north as a destination for investment, tourism, and the arts, including by bidding to hold the Olympics and Paralympics and taking a trade mission to India.⁴ The Great North, retrieved 29/09/2026, https://thegreatnorth.org.uk/about 

What powers will the mayor and the combined authority hold? 

The mayor and combined authority will hold devolved powers focused on economic development and regeneration, transport and local infrastructure, skills and employment, and housing and planning. 

The combined authority will control an Investment Fund of £21.7m per year for 30 years.⁵ Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority, Agenda reports pack, 22 April 2026, retrieved 29 September 2026, https://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=1166&MId=7901&Ver=4   A first instalment of £10.85m for the year 2026/27 was granted to the combined authority ahead of the mayoral election.⁶ Cheshire and Warrington Devolution, Devolution funding confirmation, 12 September 2025, retrieved 8 October 2026, https://www.cheshireandwarringtondevolution.com/news/devolution-funding-confirmation   Initial investments include £500,000 for active travel improvements in Warrington and £120,000 on developing growth plans for Ellesmere Port.⁷ Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority, Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority unveils £4m investment package to drive growth and strengthen communities, 24 September 2026, retrieved 29 September 2026, https://cheshireandwarrington-ca.gov.uk/cheshire-and-warrington-combined-authority-unveils-4m-investment-package-to-drive-growth-and-strengthen-commu…;

From March 2027, the combined authority will take over the role of local transport authority. Once the mayor is in post, they will be responsible for drawing up a local transport plan, which will identify strategic transport and connectivity priorities. CWCA already receives funding via the Local Transport Grant and the Local Authority Bus Grant, worth £92m per year to support local infrastructure priorities and bus networks.⁸ Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority, Agenda reports pack, 22 April 2026, retrieved 29 September 2026, https://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=1166&MId=7901&Ver=4

CWCA is expected to begin receiving the Adult Skills Fund in April 2027.⁹ Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority, Agenda reports pack, 22 April 2026, retrieved 29 September 2026, https://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=1166&MId=7901&Ver=4  The fund supports adults to gain experience in work, apprenticeships or further studies to enhance the skills base of the local work force. Its investments will be made on the basis of an adult skills strategy which will define the region’s approach to skills and employment planning from August 2027, aligned to future economic opportunities and workforce requirements.¹⁰ Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority, Agenda reports pack, 7 October 2026, retrieved 21 October 2026, https://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/g7952/Public%20reports%20pack%2007th-Oct-2026%2010.30%20Cheshire%20and%20Warrington%20Comb…;  The combined authority can partner directly with local education and employment providers for this purpose. 

CWCA is responsible for creating a spatial development strategy – a framework for future commercial and residential land use across the region that the three constituent councils’ local plans will have to conform with.

The mayor and combined authority’s powers are likely to increase over time. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 introduced new powers for mayors, including the power to charge a levy on developers to funds infrastructure delivery in the area, the power to intervene in local planning authority decisions on applications of potential strategic importance, and the power to make mayoral development orders that grant upfront planning permission to strategic developments.¹¹ UK Government, English Devolution And Community Empowerment Act 2026, 29 April 2026, retrieved 2 October 2026, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/23/notes/division/1/index.htm   The government is currently holding a consultation on the implementation of these powers.¹² UK Government, Planning powers for mayors in England, 24 August 2026, retrieved 2 October 2026, https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/planning-powers-for-mayors-in-england/planning-powers-for-mayors-in-england 

The Act also gives CWCA the power to request to become an ‘Established Mayoral Strategic Authority’. Subject to meeting certain criteria and the approval of the Secretary of State, this enhanced status would bring additional powers and a single-pot, ‘integrated’ funding settlement.¹³ UK Government, English Devolution White Paper, 16 December 2024, retrieved 2 October 2026, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-devolution-white-paper-power-and-partnership-foundations-for-growth/english-devolution-white-paper…;

How does CWCA compare to the rest of the UK in terms of social and economic outcomes?

The region meets or outperforms the national average on several core economic indicators. Levels of productivity, employment, skills and health are all above UK average at the regional level. Productivity is almost 10% higher than the UK average. It is the only region in the north whose productivity above the UK average.¹⁴ Future North, A southern economy in the North?, 21 May 2026, retrieved 1 October 2026, https://futurenorth.substack.com/p/a-southern-economy-in-the-north 

Individually, councils underperform on some measures. Productivity in Warrington is roughly 10% below the national average. The percentage of people who take public transport to work in Chesire and Warrington is 16% compared to 28% across England and Wales.

There is also significant variation between the councils. Warrington’s education attainment scores are around 10% higher than Cheshire West and Chester’s. Similarly in Cheshire East, 76% of 16–64 year olds have a level three qualification or above, compared to 67% in Cheshire West and Chester. On digital connectivity. Warrington has 96% coverage while Cheshire East has 84%. 

How does CWCA overlap with other administrative boundaries? 

The CWCA area is not coterminous with police force or fire and rescue service areas. Cheshire Police and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Services extend beyond the combined authority area to also cover Halton Borough Council, which is part of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.  

The area’s integrated care board – Cheshire and Merseyside ICB – also provides services to all the councils within Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

For the purposes of oversight of schools and children’s social care, Cheshire and Warrington is part of a much larger area covered by the Department of Education’s north west regional director.