Photo: Mayor David Skaith
An application for Established Status, a move that would unlock greater flexibility and long-term funding certainty for the region, was endorsed by Members of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority today (Friday 23 January).
York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority formed in February 2024. In 2025, the authority supported over 370 projects across York and North Yorkshire investing £39million, to help empower communities and drive growth across the region.
The Established Status would give York and North Yorkshire access to an integrated settlement in the Spending Review, allowing greater freedom to manage funding across key priorities including transport and infrastructure, adult skills, employment support, housing, environment, economic development and health and wellbeing.
The new status would enable funding to be moved between policy areas and financial years, supporting a more strategic, long-term approach to investment based on local needs.
David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire said
“Almost four years ago, the devolution journey began in York and North Yorkshire, and we’ve seen the benefits of that. People with skin in the game, not Westminster, making decisions about how to tackle the challenges in our communities.
“Today we started the next step of that journey, working with government to unlock more investment, tools, and powers for us to continue making York and North Yorkshire an even better place to live, work, and visit.”
Seven areas Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities including Greater Manchester, West Midlands, South Yorkshire, Northeast and West Yorkshire, enabling them to play with greater certainty and accelerate delivery of mayor programmes. If successful, the region would be the first rural region to gain the status.
James Farrar, Chief Executive of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority said
“Launching the Combined Authority in February 2024 marked the beginning of a new chapter for our region. Applying for this status is a bold step forward, unlocking funding, flexibility and the powers we need to realise our full potential and deliver lasting prosperity for communities across York and North Yorkshire”.
Now approved at the Combined Authority meeting, the mayor will apply to government to be designated with Established Status. The formal designation of Established Status will require secondary legislation to be passed, following Royal Assent of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. Due to anticipated timings for the Bill, a decision of whether Established Status is not expected before the Summer 2026.