The new North East devolution deal has been hailed as the key to helping the region thrive in the future. 

Council leaders on the current North East Combined Authority - made up of Durham, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland council - agreed to abolish the current administration on Tuesday to make way for the new authority, which will come as a result of the devolution deal. 

The deal, announced in December 2022, will see a significant shift in powers, funding and responsibility from central government, and is expected to provide an additional £4.2billion to the region over the next 30 years.

If given final approval by the government, the region will be given new powers including a regional approach to transport, which will help to meet the need of local communities; the development of new affordable housing; and opportunities for long term investment. Other authorities outlined for the new combined authority are Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside, which are currently part of the North of Tyne Combined Authority. 

The deal took a step forward last week when cabinet members on Durham County Council heard how the devolution deal had received the majority backing of the public following a consultation. 

Cllr Amanda Hopgood, council leader, said: “The last 10 days have been monumental for the North East. We look forward to the future for the North East mayoral combined authority and all the positives it's going to bring us.”

Despite the support, there were concerns from the County Durham Labour Party who voted against the devolution deal in favour of a County Durham-only deal, as they feared the county would be forgotten when receiving funding and investment. 

And while there were also concerns about the deal elsewhere in the North East, other political groups and councillors have warmed to the idea of collaborative regional working.

Read next: 

Cllr Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council, said: “The prospect of seven local authorities in the North East working together in partnership is a really strong, positive step. We demonstrated during the pandemic how effective we were working together and I look forward to more powers and better funding, whoever may be in government after next year - we’ve got to make that case really strongly. 

“It’s a fabulous part of the country, we have more in common than we have dividing us and working together will be really positive.” 

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner and Labour member Kim McGuinness is the current favourite for the mayoral role after current North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll was blocked from standing by the Labour Party. The new mayor is due to be elected in May 2024.