AN AMBITIOUS bid to give the south west economy a massive boost has been put together as part a devolution revolution.

Twenty three local authority partners in the region have joined forces to create a unified, in the hope of securing more money and control over budgets.

Called the Heart of the South West Devolution Document, which was put together after months of deliberations, it promises that if the authorities were given greater freedom to act with greater powers under devolution, by 2030 there would be a £4 billion uplift to the local economy.

Vast improvements to the road and rail network, schools, and an increase in better paid jobs would also follow, it says.

The group, which includes 13 county, district and unitary councils plus the enterprise partnership, two national parks and three NHS clinical commissioning groups, wants more powers and finance devolved from Westminster to the region so they can close the productivity gap and allow local people to benefit from a thriving economy.

Somerset County Council leader John Osman, who was involved in formulating the plan, said if the south west was granted devolution it could herald a new era for the region.

“This is a truly exciting opportunity for all the local authorities involved in this work,” he said.

He added: “We have come together with the common aim of making the most of devolution for our residents and shared priorities around skills, employment and infrastructure.

“It’s remarkable that so much hard work has been done so quickly and that’s testament to how important we all believe this can be.

“The plan is ambitious and that reflects our pride in what the region has to offer and our belief in its future potential. I look forward to taking the next steps with colleagues from across the south west.

“This is about helping us deliver more for our residents in key areas like the economy, homes, health and social care.

“The bid reflects our pride in what the region has to offer and our ambitions for its future potential.

“I look forward to taking the next steps with colleagues from across the south west.”

As part of the government’s requirement, the group had to identify how they would increase productivity in the area if granted devolution.

Currently, productivity in the south west is running at 80 per cent less than the national average.

The wide-ranging document, put together after months of deliberations, promises to create 163,000 new jobs and 179,000 new homes.

It also states that if devolution was granted, there would be a 400 per cent increase in apprentices, 100 per cent superfast broadband coverage in the south west, and a new UK centre of excellence for skills development.

This is more growth than the three core cities of Birmingham, Bristol and Nottingham have delivered in total, together, over the last 15 years.

The bid points out that the south west already has world class expertise in a number of significant areas such as nuclear technology at Hinkley Point, aerospace in Yeovil plus knowledge-based skills in Exeter and marine industries in Plymouth.


Cllr John Williams, leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council, said he was hopeful the bid would be considered by the government, and that it was long overdue for the area.

Cllr Williams said: “I welcome the opportunity to work with all other authorities across Somerset and Devon as unanimity adds tremendous weight to our bid for devolved powers. We have always suffered low wages and poor productivity, I am pleased to see the benefits sought from devolution will directly address this for the future."

“Improvement is long overdue and we must grasp it when the opportunity arises.”

More and more local councils across the UK are teaming up to submit applications for more devolutionary powers.

This is because the government has said that it will grant devolution to areas which can provide it with a viable business plan, and prove that under devolution there would be greater economic development and prosperity.

Devolution is also seen as a way to provide a more sustainable future for public services., especially in the face of constant cost-cutting measures and reduction in central government grants to local authorities.

The document also includes a new blueprint to transform the health and social care and the way it is provided in the south west.

One of the main aims of the social care system in the document would see a more pro-active approach in caring for the region’s elderly population.

The NHS in the south west would also be boosted under the devolution plans, with potentially more money directed towards the service so it could look after the region’s ever-increasing population.

Steve Hindley, chairman of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, said businesses from the area had thrown their weight behind the project.

Mr Hindley said: “Businesses across the Heart of the South West are the driving force that will deliver transformational growth and keen to be at the helm of a prospective devolution deal alongside local authority partners.

“We look forward to working with government and investors as we embark on this journey towards prosperity and increased productivity that will benefit not only the Heart of the South West but the UK economy as a whole.”

No firm date has been set for the document to be submitted.

To view the full “prospectus for productivity” click here