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York and North Yorkshire has gained greater access to more devolved powers which will help address “some of the structural challenges holding our county back”, the area’s mayor has said.
The government has granted the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority ‘established mayoral strategic authority status’, allowing it to unlock greater devolved powers.
Mayor David Skaith, who became the county’s first mayor in 2024 to oversee the then newly created combined authority, said the new powers will allow it to drive economic growth and improve living standards.
The status also allows the mayor and combined authority to request further powers from the government.
It means the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority joins 11 other areas with the established authority status, including Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.
Andy Burnham, when mayor of Greater Manchester, was able to use powers that came from devolution to overhaul the area’s public transport system – something Mr Skaith has supported doing in North Yorkshire.
Mr Burnham, who stood down as the region’s mayor to become prime minister, set up a publicly-run transport system, bringing local bus services – the Bee Network – back under public ownership, with more routes and lower fares.
Mr Skaith has previously voiced support for Manchester's public transport system and announced that the combined authority will trial a rural bus franchise in North Yorkshire.
He said the combined authority gaining established authority status was a “major milestone”.
“We’ve already achieved a great deal in just over two years, supporting hundreds of projects and bringing investment into our communities,” the Labour mayor said.
“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.”
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Cllr Claire Douglas, City of York Council’s leader, said the local authority will work with the combined authority to “unlock significantly more funding to drive economic growth, develop more affordable homes, and better connect the city and neighbouring places with sustainable and accessible transport”.
Cllr Carl Les, North Yorkshire Council’s leader, said it is working with the combined authority to “tackle regional inequalities and bring more equal opportunities through better job opportunities and improved skills and training as well as creating more affordable housing and dealing with the threat of climate change”.
“Established status is a recognition of all the hard work that has been done and will be vital in driving economic growth to improve lives and opportunities for our residents and businesses across the county,” he said.