Cumbria is in the Government’s priority programme of areas for devolution.
Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Councils had been invited to join the Devolution Priority Programme after earlier expressing interest in exploring what greater devolution of powers could mean here.
Cumbria’s inclusion paves the way for the process of looking at creating a new strategic authority for Cumbria with a directly elected Mayor.
Devolution revolution: The Government’s press release
What devolution is and how it works
The Government has set out its intention to widen devolution across England, giving regions more powers and decision-making over matters such as economic development, employment support and transport.
Under devolution arrangements, central Government transfer powers and money to regions across the country. This allows people who know their areas best to decide where money is spent.
This has already happened in lots of areas, particularly in the North of England where Greater Manchester, the Tees Valley and more recently, North Yorkshire, have agreed to greater devolution.
A combined authority or Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA) for Cumbria would be in addition to the two unitary councils, Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness.
The vast majority of powers would be transferred to the new authority from central Government. A small number of powers could be transferred from Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council to the new authority.
Devolution will unlock more funding and more powers for our area, with decisions being made in Cumbria rather than in London.
What would be included in a combined authority
Strategic authorities will have defined areas of competence, set out in law, covering:
- transport and local infrastructure
- skills and employment support
- housing and strategic planning
- economic development and regeneration
- environment and climate change
- health, wellbeing and public service reform
- public safety
Combined authorities will also have a seat on the Council of Nations and Regions and the Mayoral Council, offering an opportunity to influence the future development of devolution in England.
The proposed functions of a combined authority are explained in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment bill which was published in July 2025 and is making its way through Parliament towards becoming law.
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
What happens now
In July 2025, the Government confirmed it believes the introduction of a mayoral authority for Cumbria would improve people’s economic, social and environmental wellbeing and reflect the identities and interests of local communities.
This allowed Cumbria to progress to the next stage of the devolution process.
Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland Councils will now need to formally decide whether they both want to introduce a combined mayoral authority. The councils are set to consider this in September 2025.
If the councils agree to setting up a combined authority, it is anticipated this would become a legal body early in 2026, with leadership until elections in May 2027 coming from the two constituent authorities, Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Councils.
As part of its assessment, the Government published a summary of the public consultation it ran in spring 2025, which received more than 1,300 responses from groups, businesses and individuals. The consultation feedback will be considered as part of September’s decision-making process for both councils.
The consultation summary response is now live at Cumbria devolution - GOV.UK