York and North Yorkshire has become the first rural mayoral area in England to be granted Established Mayoral Strategic Authority Status, unlocking new powers and greater funding flexibility to drive economic growth, investment and improved living standards across the region.
The milestone marks a significant step forward in the area's devolution journey and strengthens the ability of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority to shape its own future.
The new designation provides the Combined Authority, led by Mayor David Skaith, with access to a broader range of devolved powers, more flexible multi-year funding arrangements, and the opportunity to seek additional powers directly from government.
Established Status is designed to give mayoral authorities greater freedom over how funding is allocated locally, reducing reliance on competitive bidding processes and enabling longer-term planning. The move is expected to help accelerate economic development, support local communities and tackle some of the structural challenges facing the region.
Since its formation in February 2024, the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has overseen investment in hundreds of projects aimed at boosting local growth and opportunity. Government recognition through Established Status reflects growing confidence in the authority's ability to deliver transformational change across the county.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire said
“This is a major milestone and clear evidence of the progress we’ve made as a county and a Combined Authority in a short space of time.
“We’ve already achieved a great deal in just over two years, supporting hundreds of projects and bringing investment into our communities.
“Now, with Established Status, we will have access to greater powers and funding, allowing us to go even further and faster to address some of the structural challenges holding our county back.
“This will help us fully realise the benefits of devolution and ensure decisions about our county are made by our county, for our county, and in our county by those who know it best.”
Introduced under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026, Established Mayoral Strategic Authority Status brings a range of benefits, including:
- Multi-year, flexible funding settlements
- Reduced reliance on competitive funding applications
- Direct investment allocations from government
- Access to the full suite of Devolution Framework powers
- The ability to formally request additional devolved powers
The enhanced status is intended to strengthen local decision-making and ensure regions can deliver long-term economic and social outcomes tailored to local needs.
York and North Yorkshire is one of four combined authorities to be awarded Established Status.
The other authorities are:
- East Midlands Combined County Authority
- West of England Mayoral Combined Authority
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
Welcoming the announcement, East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward highlighted the opportunities the designation will create for the region.
East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward said:
“This is a major milestone in our mission to make the East Midlands the best place to live, to work, and to learn. It demonstrates that we are already delivering across the region, and it will enable us to deliver more.
“Established Status is also an important step towards our 2028 ambition. By then, EMCCA will have a broader and more influential role across the region. This includes taking on Police and Crime Commissioner, and Fire and Rescue Authority functions and governance and working even closer with our local councils and partners.
“With more powers and an integrated funding settlement to follow, we will be able to plan for the long-term, drive growth, and ensure opportunities are spread fairly across the region.”
The announcement reinforces the growing role of devolution in shaping regional economic policy, with York and North Yorkshire now positioned to take greater control over investment, infrastructure and public services to support future growth.
Image credit: iStock
