Michelmores is pleased to have hosted a consultation in relation to the proposed devolution to establish a Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority.
The proposed Devon and Torbay devolution deal was announced by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Homes and Communities on 25 January 2024. The devolution will involve the transfer of powers and funding from central to local government.
The event, hosted by Michelmores at the Firm’s headquarters in Exeter in early March, was attended by over 20 key stakeholders in ‘housing’, one of the major areas for consideration. The stakeholders were drawn from key figures from the public sector and local authorities, private sector developers and major landowners.
Combined County Authorities (CCAs) are a new model of devolution, outlined in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. Establishing a CCA is a formal, legal step, allowing upper tier councils across the region to work more closely together in a more structured way. A CCA for Devon and Torbay would be a new statutory authority created to lead collaboration between councils and would act as the recipient of powers and funding from Government.
The consultation was held in the Firm’s boardroom and allowed the invitees to openly discuss the pros and cons in a neutral environment. The event was co-chaired by Charles Courtenay, Earl of Devon and Partner in Michelmores’ Commercial & Regulatory Disputes team, and Mark Howard, Head of Michelmores’ Planning team.
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