Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority and devolution deal

Why do we need a devolution deal?

Devon and Torbay is a special place with enormous potential in its businesses, people and places. But Devon and Torbay face challenges that impact productivity levels and the ability to grow:

  • Productivity lags behind the UK average and requires an 30% increase to close the gap.
  • Public spending per person has historically trailed the rest of the UK.
  • Rural, urban and the coastal areas suffer from nationally significant levels of poverty.
  • Social mobility and youth aspiration and progression are particular areas of concern.
  • Young people are leaving the area due to a lack of available housing and attractive employment opportunities.
  • There are significant challenges with skills and educational performance and pockets of nationally significant educational need.

We believe that our proposal for a Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority will help us address these challenges.

FAQs about devolution and the deal

View of Brixham Harbour on a sunny day, boats in the water and colourful houses on the far side.

The benefits we believe our proposal will bring to Devon and Torbay

With a population of 953,000 and a Gross Value Added of over £17 billion, Devon and Torbay offer enormous potential. We have nearly 50,000 businesses providing around 473,000 jobs. There are significant sectors with the potential for growth.

We believe that establishing a Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority will enable us to make a real difference to people’s lives – tackling challenges as well as providing Devon and Torbay with a stronger voice to influence policy for the benefit of our residents, communities and businesses.  Our proposal will give the area greater ability to: 

Maximise our economic potential

  • A skilled workforce our local economy needs for the future
  • Secure new investment to help create additional high value jobs
  • Devolution of Adult Education functions

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Address our housing pressures 

  • Additional investment in affordable housing schemes
  • Reduce the barriers to affordable housing delivery
  • Greater Community Land Trust-led delivery

Improve local transport

  • Strengthened joined-up approach
  • Improved efficiency and co-ordination of public transport
  • Shared responsibility for strategic transport to support economic growth

Meet our net zero ambitions

  • Unlock Devon and Torbay’s huge green economic potential
  • More investment in green business growth
  • Capitalising on our area’s world-leading expertise in green science and technology

Deliver investment in Devon and Torbay

  • Local democratic accountability for investment decision in the local economy
  • A strong voice for business and skills representatives
  • Easier for businesses to access information, advice and support

Create a strong and sustainable local economy

  • Support high growth business sectors  and  our traditional strengths
  • Creating a strong and sustainable local economy
  • Increase productivity and pay across Devon and Torbay

About devolution and the deal

The Government has published proposals for a potentially ground-breaking devolution deal for Devon and Torbay that could re-draw the future relationship with Whitehall and transfer a range of powers and funding to local democratic control.

  • Devolution in Devon and Torbay

    Devolution from Government to Devon and Torbay is the engine room for improved productivity and reduced disparities between Devon and Torbay and the rest of the UK..

  • What is a Combined County Authority?

    A Combined County Authority provides for joint governance between local authorities around transport, skills, economic development, housing and regeneration.

  • Further devolution FAQs

    FAQs about devolution, the deal Devon and Torbay have with Government and what that means locally