Our devolution journey - the story so far

Date
June 20, 2025

Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council, and Warrington Borough Council - alongside Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington - have been working together for over 15 years. Watch our short video explainer for more information about the story so far...

  • 2009 – Councils and the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) start working together on regional projects and initiatives
  • August 2015 – Cheshire East Council Leader announces working with Cheshire West and Chester and Warrington on a potential devolution deal
  • 2016 – A cross-party working group is set up to explore devolution proposals for Cheshire with representatives from the three councils
  • June 2016 – Councils announce that the devolution deal has been put on hold after failing to reach agreement on an elected Mayor
  • January 2017 – Warrington Borough Council votes to join with the two Cheshire councils in a devolution deal, instead of Liverpool City Region
  • July 2018 – Council leaders express frustration on devolution delays
  • November 2020 – Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Commission, working across the area, is reinvigorated
  • A new vision is created for Cheshire and Warrington’s economy to be ‘the healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive and growing economy in the UK’
  • September 2021 – Councils begin talks with government over a new county devolution deal
  • February 2022 – Councils express disappointment that they are not included in the government’s Levelling Up county deals
  • February 2023 – Cheshire and Warrington leaders state they have been writing to government for three years about a devolution deal but with no success
  • June 2023 – Councils meet with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to discuss devolution and send prospectus to the government setting out renewed enthusiasm for a deal
  • 2023-2024 – Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Strategy (SEIS) developed, and Cheshire and Warrington LEP transferred under ownership of the councils, becoming Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington
  • Spring 2024 – Creation of Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee
  • September 2024 – Council leaders announce they are in discussions with the new government on a devolution deal
  • Business Advisory Board established, working to Joint Committee, to ensure the business voice and business growth is central to devolution proposals
  • January 2025 – An expression of interest is submitted to be part of the government’s Devolution Priority Programme (DPP)
  • February 2025 – Cheshire and Warrington confirmed as part of the DPP
  • February-April 2025 – Government undertakes consultation on devolution across all DPP areas
  • April 2025 onwards – Engagement work with residents, communities, businesses and partner organisations across Cheshire and Warrington to seek feedback on a potential devolution deal