Local leaders in large parts of the East Midlands will be given new powers to build more attractive and affordable homes, improve transport and boost skills training and through a first-of-a-kind county devolution deal.
The deal with Derbyshire, Derby, Nottinghamshire and Nottingham (pictured) will see the area appoint a directly elected mayor, responsible for delivering local priorities, backed by a new £38m per year investment fund.
In addition to the agreed funding being under local control rather than from Whitehall, a new mayoral combined county authority will be created.
The new mayor will also be granted powers to drive regeneration, with compulsory purchase powers and the ability to designate mayoral development areas and establish mayoral development corporations to promote growth and build new homes.
Levelling up secretary Greg Clark said: “The East Midlands is renowned for its economic dynamism and it has the potential to lead Britain’s economy of the future.
“The new East Midlands Combined County Authority will also be granted control of more than £17m of additional funding for the building of new homes on brownfield land in 2024/25, subject to sufficient eligible projects for funding being identified, and a further £18m has been agreed to support housing priorities and drive net zero ambitions into the area.”
Nottinghamshire County Council leader and MP Ben Bradley, Barry Lewis, leader of Derbyshire County Council, Chris Poulter, leader of Derby City Council, and David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, said the deal was “fantastic news”.
In a joint statement they added: “As leaders, we have all fought for a fairer share for our cities and counties and a bigger voice for our area to give us the clout and the influence we deserve, and to help us live up to our full potential.
“This deal would help make that a reality, creating more and better jobs through greater investment in our area, with increased economic growth, better transport, housing, skills training, and an enhanced greener environment, as we move towards being carbon neutral. These are what we all want to see, and we will work together for the common good of the East Midlands.”
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