Big news for Hull and East Yorkshire—a new Combined Authority is officially starting work! This means more decisions will be made locally rather than in Westminster, and a massive £400 million investment fund is coming to the area.
And there’s more: the region will soon have its own elected Mayor, with voting set for Thursday 1 May 2025. From then on, mayoral elections will take place every four years.
So, what does this all mean for people living in Hull and the East Riding? Let’s break it down.
What is the Hull and East Yorkshire combined authority?
In simple terms, the Combined Authority is a new organisation set up to take control of certain powers from the Government, making it easier to invest in things like transport, jobs, and local development.
It’s been made possible after Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council struck a deal with Westminster. The goal? To give the region more control over its own future.
But don’t worry—this won’t replace the two existing councils. You’ll still see the same council-branded bin lorries, and both Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council will continue handling services like schools, housing, and local amenities.
What will change?
The biggest shift is that local leaders—rather than politicians in London—will get to make decisions about key areas. This includes:
- £400 million in funding to be used for projects that benefit the region.
- A new Local Transport Authority, which will be responsible for creating a strategic transport plan for the North Bank of the Humber.
- The power to invest in local businesses, infrastructure, and skills development.
Essentially, the hope is that having control over this funding and decision-making will lead to better roads, better public transport, and more job opportunities.
Local leaders are excited
Hull City Council Leader Councillor Mike Ross called this moment a huge win for the area:
“I’m delighted that we have got to this stage in the process after years of hard work by many people. For too long our area has been left behind, but it’s now time for us to reach our full potential.”
Meanwhile, Councillor Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said:
“This is fantastic news and serves as a significant landmark in the devolution process. It’s great to receive official confirmation that devolved powers will be coming to our area.”
What happens next?
Now that the Government has signed off on the deal, work starts on setting up the Mayoral election and getting everything in place for the new authority to begin operating.
For now, the big date to remember is Thursday 1 May 2025—that’s when people across Hull and the East Riding will vote for their first-ever Mayor.
Want to stay updated? Check out the official site: Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority.
