Norfolk and Suffolk are on the verge of a major transformation in local governance.
Councillors set to vote on 16 October on proposals to transfer powers and funding from Whitehall under the UK government’s Devolution Priority Programme.
If approved by both counties, the two counties would form a combined authority led by a directly elected mayor from May 2026, responsible for steering local priorities in jobs, housing, transport, economic growth, and environmental planning.
The initiative is part of a wider government push following the English Devolution White Paper and the Plan for Change, designed to put more decision-making power into local hands rather than Westminster.
Under the proposals, the mayor and combined authority would oversee local transport, skills and jobs, housing development, economic growth, regeneration, and environmental priorities.
From 2027, responsibilities would expand to include police and crime commissioner and fire and rescue authority functions.
Norfolk County Council leader Councillor Kay Mason Billig said, “The devolution proposals and annual investment fund give us a major opportunity to improve lives in Norfolk and Suffolk, by boosting our economy, jobs, transport and housing. It would enable us to focus on local needs – whether it’s for the types of training required to attract quality jobs, the sites we need to develop for industry and housing and the transport links we need to get the two counties moving.”
Suffolk County Council has already voted to proceed, while Norfolk will make its decision at a special meeting on 16 October. Both councils must approve the plan for it to move forward.
The proposals include a multi-million-pound investment fund guaranteed for 30 years, allowing the new authority to prioritise spending according to local needs. Elected mayoral control brings strategic leadership, faster decision-making, and clear accountability.
Citizens can directly vote for a mayor responsible for regional strategy, ensuring local concerns are communicated to central government, as Jim McMahon OBE MP, former Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution noted: “While devolution can be hard to understand sometimes, the aims of this programme are simple: it puts more money in people’s pockets, leads to quicker, better, cheaper transport, designed with local people in mind and puts politics back in the service of working people.”
The combined authority would also improve coordination between Norfolk and Suffolk councils, streamlining decision-making in two-tier areas. This can accelerate housing approvals, infrastructure projects, and skills investment while targeting funding to meet regional labour market needs.
Having a mayor allows for the kind of directness of policy and tailored political action that can attract and retain key businesses, unlock housing and employment sites, and position the region for long-term growth. Devolution also provides opportunities for further powers and funding in the future.
However, concentrating power in a single office carries risks. Democratic oversight may be challenged if council priorities conflict with the mayor’s agenda. Also financial responsibility also becomes critical, as mismanagement could significantly affect local services. With more power comes significantly more responsibility.
There may also be operational concerns at the executive level. Political dynamics between councillors and the mayor will require negotiation and compromise. Due to democratic considerations of voter numbers some rural areas may benefit less than urban centres. Balancing strategic leadership with local representation will be essential to ensure equitable outcomes.
Lessons from other regions, such as North Yorkshire’s unitarisation in 2023, show that structural reform combined with strong leadership can deliver measurable financial and service improvements.
The government is also simplifying governance nationally, reducing bureaucracy, and inviting councils in two-tier areas to create unitary proposals. This supports mayoral devolution by allowing the mayor to focus on strategic priorities rather than operational matters.
If approved, Norfolk and Suffolk residents could benefit from locally designed transport, expanded housing and industrial development, investment in skills, a strengthened economy, and a more accountable political leadership.
Councillor Billig emphasised that devolution allows a focus on local needs, transport links, and industry and housing sites. The region could become a model for effective, mayor-led governance, demonstrating how strategic leadership, long-term funding, and local decision-making can unlock growth and improve public services, while highlighting both the advantages and challenges of elected mayoral control.
