The Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority (CWCA) intends to appoint former Homes England chief Nick Walkley as its interim chief executive.
The shadow board of the combined authority will be asked to confirm Walkley’s appointment at a meeting on 30 January
Walkley served as chief executive of Homes England from 2017 to 2021, where he led the creation and growth of the UK government’s housing and development agency, overseeing a portfolio that included affordable homes, new towns, brownfield schemes, SME support and major infrastructure funding.
Prior to this, he was chief executive of two major London local authorities – Haringey Council and Barnet Council. Walkley most recently served as principal and UK president of Avison Young. He will take up his new position in early March.
Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council and chair of the shadow board, said: “Nick Walkley’s appointment would be a defining moment for Cheshire and Warrington. His track record in large-scale transformation, combined with his passion for place-making and understanding of how devolution can drive inclusive growth, makes him the outstanding choice to lead our new combined authority.
“We are ambitious for our region, and Nick shares that ambition. He understands that devolution isn’t just about structures and powers – it’s about improving people’s lives through better transport, more affordable homes, stronger skills training, and creating the conditions for businesses to thrive. With Nick at the helm during this crucial interim period, we would build the solid foundations needed to deliver real, tangible benefits for our residents and communities.”
Steve Purdham, chair of the Cheshire and Warrington Business Advisory Board, added: “The business community warmly endorses Nick’s appointment. His proven ability to forge powerful partnerships between government, local authorities and the private sector is exactly what we need as we work to unlock Cheshire and Warrington’s economic potential.
“Nick understands that sustainable growth can only be achieved when the public and private sectors work in genuine partnership. He has demonstrated throughout his career that he knows how to turn ambitious visions into reality. The business advisory board looks forward to working with him to ensure that business insight and expertise shape our region’s economic strategy.”
Walkley said: “I am honoured to be recommended as the first interim chief executive of the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority. This region has extraordinary strengths – world class businesses, talented people, beautiful places and a collaborative spirit that sets it apart.
“Devolution represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape our own destiny, to make decisions locally that reflect our priorities and ambitions, and to unlock investment that will transform transport connections, accelerate housing delivery, develop the skills our economy needs and support businesses to innovate and grow.
“I’ve spent my career working in partnerships between government, local authorities, communities and the private sector to deliver places where people genuinely want to live, work and invest. Cheshire and Warrington has the vision, the leadership and the economic firepower to become a blueprint for successful devolution. Subject to the board’s approval, I cannot wait to get started and to work with partners across the region to build something truly exceptional.”
