The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has officially backed a bid for Established Status on Friday, 23 January; if approved, it could unlock greater funding, flexibility and powers.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, showed his support for the initiative saying: "Almost four years ago, the devolution journey began in York and North Yorkshire, and we’ve seen the benefits of that.

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"People with skin in the game, not Westminster, making decisions about how to tackle the challenges in our communities.

"Today we started the next step of that journey, working with government to unlock more investment, tools, and powers for us to continue making York and North Yorkshire an even better place to live, work, and visit."

Established Status would give the region new powers over long-term funding and the ability to manage spending across key priorities such as transport, housing, adult skills, and economic development.

It would also provide the flexibility to move funding between different policy areas and across financial years, supporting a more strategic, long-term approach based on local needs.

The status would place York and North Yorkshire alongside combined authorities like Greater Manchester, West Midlands, and West Yorkshire and if York and North Yorkshire are awarded Established Status, it would become the first rural region to do so.

In 2025, the authority supported over 370 projects across York and North Yorkshire investing £39million, to help empower communities and drive growth across the region.

James Farrar, chief executive of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: "Launching the Combined Authority in February 2024 marked the beginning of a new chapter for our region.

"Applying for this status is a bold step forward, unlocking funding, flexibility and the powers we need to realise our full potential and deliver lasting prosperity for communities across York and North Yorkshire."

The formal designation would require secondary legislation, following Royal Assent of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, so a final decision is not expected before summer 2026, due to the legislative timetable.