Why devolution needs certainty as well as ambition

With Andy Burnham now in No 10, devolution is moving closer to the centre of government.

The planned creation of No 10 North, with responsibility for local economic growth and devolution strategy, suggests the new government wants to give regional growth a more direct role in national decision-making. How that works in practice is still to be seen, but the direction of travel is clear.

For the North West, this is familiar territory. The region has long made the case that towns and cities need more control over the decisions that shape their future. What feels different now is the sense that devolution is moving from a long-running policy debate into something more immediate, with fiscal devolution, Integrated Settlements and the future role of combined authorities all moving up the agenda.

For those working in regeneration, the relevance is clear. Regeneration is strongest when it starts with a proper understanding of place, and when local partners have the tools and confidence to shape what happens next. Local government and regional partners are closest to the pressures and opportunities in their areas, which means they are often best placed to understand where investment can make the biggest difference.

But greater local power will only matter if it helps places deliver. For regeneration, the issue is not only where decisions are made. It is whether local leaders have the certainty and flexibility to turn those decisions into homes, infrastructure, public space and long-term change. That is why the discussion around integrated settlements matters. Multi-year funding gives combined authorities more room to plan properly. It should allow them to prioritise, work with partners and take a longer term view, rather than constantly chasing the next funding round.

For complex regeneration, that makes a real difference. The places with the greatest potential are often the hardest to unlock. Brownfield land can sit close to transport, jobs and existing communities, but still be a long way from delivery. Before visible progress begins, a lot has to be worked through carefully, from whether the numbers stack up to how infrastructure, investment and later phases fit together.

Short-term funding makes that harder. It encourages places to respond to individual programmes rather than shape a clear route to delivery. Integrated settlements should help move the system away from that. The model still has to work in practice. If funding remains too restrictive, places will struggle to take the long-term view that regeneration needs. The aim should be to give local leaders enough room to respond to the conditions in front of them, without creating another process to work around.

Accountability matters too. Public money needs proper oversight, but regeneration also has to be judged by what changes come for the people who live and work in a place. Governance and funding structures are important, but communities experience the outcome through tangible, real results. The homes delivered, the spaces they use and the renewed confidence that starts to build around them is vital.

That is something we have seen across the North West. In Salford, through ECF, our partnership with L&G and Homes England, we have worked with Salford City Council for over two decades to help bring forward regeneration across more than 50 acres of underused land on the edge of Manchester city centre. That work has supported new homes, workspace and public space, helping to reconnect parts of the city and support long-term change.

It has taken time because regeneration of that scale cannot be reduced to a single decision or funding route. Different phases have come forward at different moments. Market conditions have changed. Expectations around sustainability, affordability and city centre living have evolved. What has mattered is the strength of the partnership and the ability to stay with the place. That is the kind of delivery model devolution should make easier.

If combined authorities are being asked to play a bigger role in shaping growth, they need tools that match the scale of that responsibility. They need long-term certainty, enough flexibility to respond to local conditions and trusted partnerships with those able to help turn ambition into places people can see and use.

The wider debate will keep moving. Leadership will change, powers will evolve and funding models will continue to be tested. For the built environment, the question is more practical. Can devolution help unlock the regeneration our towns and cities need?

Across the North West, there is no shortage of ambition. The next step is making sure local power comes with the certainty, flexibility and partnership needed to turn that ambition into delivery.