The English Devolution White Paper: Devolution & Transport

23 Jan 2025 5 min read

A close-up image of sustainable transport buses

What is the Devolution White Paper all about?

The principle underlying the English Devolution White Paper (the “White Paper”) is that ‘too many decisions affecting too many people are made by too few… micromanaging from the centre combined with short-term, sticking-plaster politics has left England’s regions in a doom loop’.

The White Paper proposes a ‘completely new way of governing – a generational project of determined devolution… ending the destructive ‘Whitehall knows best’ mindset.’

At a high level, the White Paper looks to broaden and deepen devolution by:

extending devolution to the whole of England;
replacing existing two-tier local authorities with unitary authorities; and
introducing ‘Strategic Authorities’, a new legal concept encouraging partnerships between neighbouring local authorities.

What are Strategic Authorities?

Strategic Authorities fall into three categories:

Foundation Strategic Authorities: combined authorities without a mayor
Mayoral Strategic Authorities: combined authorities with a mayor
Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities: Mayoral Strategic Authorities that satisfy specified criteria designed to assess operational and financial competence over an extended period may apply to become ‘Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities’. Achieving established status unlocks further areas of competence and the provision of ‘Integrated Settlements’.

What impact does the White Paper foresee for transport?

‘Transport and local infrastructure’ is within Strategic Authorities’ areas of competence: as such, they will have a mandate to ‘act strategically… drive growth… and support the shaping’ of transport services.

Strategic Authority transport functions

The White Paper contemplates Strategic Authorities exercising, amongst others, the following functions in relation to transport (noting that some of these functions are reserved for certain categories of Strategic Authority):

Local Transport Authority functions (including bus franchising, management of micromobility schemes, and responsibility for Local Transport Plans). All Local Transport Authorities will be empowered to decide whether to pursue bus franchising, a strengthened Enhanced Partnership, or publicly owned bus companies
a strategic role in the decarbonisation of local bus fleets
allocation of local transport funding
powers to coordinate local road networks in partnership with constituent authorities and with less oversight from national government
strategic engagement with Great British Railways: it is contemplated that Strategic Authorities will work with the government to explore development opportunities on rail-owned land to drive regeneration and unlock commercial opportunities
a statutory role in governing, managing, planning and developing the rail network
an option for greater control over local rail stations
a ‘right to request’ further rail devolution in certain circumstances, recognising the success of devolved rail models in London and Liverpool. Further guidance on the process will be published in due course.
a role in the delivery of multi-modal ticketing. The government will work closely with Strategic Authorities as it looks to reform the rail ticketing system and extend the use of integrated, multi-modal ticketing.

To facilitate the exercise of these functions, other public bodies will also be given reciprocal obligations. For example, Network Rail will be obliged to ensure that it has due regard for Strategic Authority strategies and shares growth priorities for the areas in which it works. Similarly, Great British Railways must collaborate with Strategic Authorities, for example as it undertakes national rail planning and ticketing reform.

Funding

Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities will receive local transport funding streams as part of their Integrated Settlement. This will include City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement funding for eligible authorities from 2027/2028.

Funding will also be consolidated for other types of strategic authority, with greater consolidation, autonomy and flexibility for places with a Mayor.

Authorities will be held accountable through a transport-specific accountability framework with a proportionate outcomes framework and metrics.

What does this mean in practice?

The government’s intention to transfer power away from Whitehall and closer to local areas will present more opportunities for local government to influence strategic decisions in relation to the transport network.

Some of the principles considered by the White Paper could have a significant impact on the transport network in Great Britain. For example, we await with interest the publication of further guidance on the process to be followed where rail devolution is requested. If the model set by London and Liverpool is replicated across the country as the White Paper intimates, this could provide exciting opportunities for the development of integrated transport networks more closely tailored to the needs of local communities.