How could a Combined Authority help drive investment in my area?

Written by Adam Sanford, Head of SCF (South East and London)

The UK’s recent English Devolution White Paper outlines significant plans to empower combined authorities, aiming to enhance local governance and drive regional growth.  This will include simplifying how combined authorities make key decisions and empowering mayors to implement strategies on development, transport, and investment.

The definition of a combined authority (CA) is a group of two or more councils collaborating and taking collective decisions across council boundaries. A combined county authority (CCA) is formed between two or more county councils and possibly unitary councils.

Collective strategic decisions can be made on areas like public transport or infrastructure planning or managing additional funding for that particular region. It can also carry out the role of the police or fire commissioner.

How a combined authority can attract investment

There is much anticipation in the sector about driving new Public/Private partnerships through shared investments in sectors such as green skills and modernisation of infrastructure, attracting additional investment on a scale that may not have been possible through the current system.

With combined authorities having more funding control over transport utilities, and public services, this will allow them to plan for longer term development as increased funding will result in more predictable planning approvals. This will attract investors which often prefer regions with streamlined planning because delays can increase costs.

With developers and investors increasingly prioritising green construction to meet ESG goals, combined authorities can capitalise on this through promoting modular construction or offering financial incentives for the public sector to drive forward sustainable developments and develop green enterprise zones.

Working with a construction framework that utilises a two-stage procurement process, can also support with this as it reduces risk for developers and investors, allowing early involvement of contractors and supply chains, reducing financial uncertainty.

Infrastructure investment increases site viability

Greater investment in infrastructure can also increase site viability, and in turn attract more investment as it makes locations more attractive for housing or commercial developments. Upgrading utilities for example such as water and power ensures sites are ready for construction.

Bigger picture for economic growth

Local planning approvals have been seen by some as blockers to local investment. However, combined authorities are seen to focus on the bigger picture when balancing economic growth, against potential drawbacks of disruptive construction works in a region.

The Devolution Whitepaper is a crucial step toward empowering combined authorities to drive housing, infrastructure and regeneration projects. However, to fully unlock private sector investment, the government must provide long-term funding certainty, providing an investment-friendly environment that delivers, faster, more sustainable and cost-effective construction.

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