Call for rapid sign-off as new government takes office
Dorset Council has urged swift action from the new Prime Minister to progress a long-sought devolution agreement for the South West. Council leader Nick Ireland said he would write on the Prime Minister’s first day in office to press for approval of the proposed Heart of Wessex combined authority, which would bring together Dorset, BCP, Somerset and Wiltshire under a directly elected mayor.
The partnership bid was turned down in January 2025, with ministers then stating it was not sufficiently developed. Local leaders voiced dismay at the time, warning that the decision risked leaving the area behind on investment and decision‑making powers. With a change of administration in Westminster, Dorset is seeking to put the plan back on the table without delay.
"I would like Andy Burnham to recognise that as a Wessex footprint, we are ready to go... we'd like Andy just to sign it off, please," Councillor Nick Ireland said, adding that unitary councils make the proposal an "easy win".
What the bid covers
The Heart of Wessex proposal brings together four authorities that argue a shared geography and economy can support faster decisions and targeted investment. Each approved area under the devolution framework would install an elected mayor and could gain access to millions of pounds in funding, channelled via a national Council of the Regions.
| Area | Council |
|---|---|
| Dorset (unitaire) | Dorset Council |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole | BCP Council |
| Somerset (unitaire) | Somerset Council |
| Wiltshire (unitaire) | Wiltshire Council |
Supporters of the deal say devolved powers would enable locally set priorities on:
- Housing and growth, including planning and regeneration
- Transport and infrastructure, improving connectivity across council boundaries
- Clean, resilient energy and wider net-zero ambitions
BCP Council leader Cllr Millie Earl has described devolution as a chance to bring decisions closer to residents and unlock investment for growth, housing, transport, infrastructure and clean, resilient energy.
From rejection to renewed bid
The government invited bids for combined regional authorities in August 2024, signalling a shift towards larger-scale local partnerships. When Dorset’s joint bid was refused the following winter, council leaders said the South West risked losing out financially compared with regions that had already secured deals.
Mr Ireland says that position has changed. He argues the councils have done the groundwork and the proposal is ready for ministerial sign-off. He also pointed to recent conversations with national figures advocating greater devolution, and stressed the unitary status of the four councils makes the set‑up more straightforward.
Local implications if approved
If the plan proceeds, the region would prepare for an elected mayor, alongside a combined authority responsible for strategic decisions across the four areas. For residents, this could mean clearer regional priorities on housing delivery, upgraded transport links and longer-term investment programmes, rather than year‑to‑year bidding.
Practical questions for residents would include how mayoral leadership fits with existing councils, what taxation or funding tools a combined authority may use, and how programmes are phased across different towns and rural communities. Those details would be set out in any formal agreement and subsequent consultation.
Next steps
Mr Ireland said he will submit a fresh push to Downing Street to move the Wessex bid forward. He indicated Dorset and its neighbours stand ready to engage with the new ministerial team to finalise powers and funding profiles, describing the proposal as a deliverable early win for central government’s devolution agenda.
While the timetable now rests with the incoming administration, local leaders will be looking for early signals that the South West will be among the first wave of areas to receive approval under the renewed policy. For many councils, the test will be how quickly pledges on local growth and empowerment translate into practical authority, budgets and a clear election date for a regional mayor.
