Devolution in England is gaining momentum, with new deals shifting powers from Westminster to local and regional authorities.
After a decade of devolution, a dozen English regions are now led by mayors who, in partnership with local government, control key economic powers and budgets. But devolution has unfolded unevenly.
Outside London, almost all of the South has been excluded.
Labour has come to power committed to widening devolution.
Local leaders in ‘devolution deserts’ have been invited to submit proposals for how they will work with neighbouring areas to take on devolved powers.
West Berkshire is in the middle of one of those deserts.
But could it use its small, but strategically important position to its advantage?
West Berkshire sits at a point along the M4 corridor – usefully convenient for Reading, Heathrow… and going the other way, Bristol.
While it can’t quite argue it is Berkshire’s strategic equivalent to the Suez Canal, providing a handy through route for global commerce, it might explain why the district of 170,000 people is keeping quiet as the political machinations for a new mayoral authority in the region form up.
So let’s look at the geography of it. And who wants to get into bed with who.
How these councils navigate devolution will shape the region’s future in areas such as transport, infrastructure, housing and economic development.
“We must rewire England and end the hoarding in Whitehall by devolving power and money from central government to those with skin in the game,” Deputy PM Angela Rayner said.
While West Berkshire sits in a good spot between the likes of Reading, Swindon, and further along the M4, Bristol, it is one of the smaller populations.
Any devolution arrangement would need to balance its local, largely rural identity with economic and infrastructure ties to nearby urban centres.
One of the primary benefits of devolution is said to be greater financial autonomy.
Currently, many councils along the M4 corridor rely on central government funding, often tied to specific projects or national priorities.
Under devolution deals, local leaders will gain more control over how money is allocated, allowing them to invest in projects that best serve their communities.
Regional mayors will also be introduced for all areas.
Given its location and economic profile, there are two realistic devolution models that could suit West Berkshire:
One is the Thames Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) aligning with Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
A mayoral combined county authority across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire would bring together the world-class research sector in Oxfordshire with neighbouring major urban centres like Reading and Slough to spur growth.
The health board already operates across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire – but the elephant in the room with this possible model is that the likes of Buckinghamshire might well decide to go it alone.
Thames Valley Police already runs across this geography.
But. It is a potential fit for West Berkshire to tuck in under the wing, as it could benefit from nearby economic hubs such as Reading, Wokingham, Bracknell and possibly Oxfordshire.
This model would reflect the area’s existing economic interdependencies and transport links while maintaining local distinctiveness.
This grouping would potentially suit west Berkshire best because of economic alignment.
The Thames Valley is a key driver of the UK economy, home to major technology, life sciences, and finance companies.
West Berkshire, with its business hubs in Newbury and Thatcham, would benefit from investment in innovation, digital infrastructure, and skills development.
It’s also the one of the more attractive of the districts, with most of the land mass covered in National Landscape, and so could suit the executive property market serving those urban areas well.
Devolution often comes with greater powers over housing and planning policy, which could help councils along the M4 corridor address the region’s housing crisis.
High demand and limited supply have drove up housing prices, particularly in commuter areas such as Newbury, Maidenhead and Slough.
With more authority over planning regulations and finance methods, municipalities might speed up housebuilding, boost affordable housing initiatives, and implement policies tailored to local needs.
Swindon and Reading, for example, may concentrate brownfield rehabilitation to reduce urban sprawl, whilst West Berkshire may focus on long-term rural development.
Another good fit is for transportation coordination.
The A34 corridor and M4 are critical for West Berkshire’s connectivity.
A devolution agreement encompassing this area could improve transportation planning, including improved rail and road connections between Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and London.
West Berkshire is under pressure to build more houses, but as a primarily rural area, it must strike a balance between expansion and environmental concerns.
A Thames Valley approach could ensure housing targets are met while maintaining the area’s identity.
High demand and limited supply have drove up housing prices, particularly in commuter areas such as Newbury, Maidenhead and Slough.
With more authority over planning regulations and finance methods, municipalities might speed up housebuilding, boost affordable housing initiatives, and implement policies tailored to local needs.
Swindon and Reading, for example, may concentrate brownfield rehabilitation to reduce urban sprawl, whilst West Berkshire may focus on long-term rural development.
Another good fit is for transportation coordination.
The A34 corridor and M4 are critical for West Berkshire’s connectivity.
A devolution agreement encompassing this area could improve transportation planning, including improved rail and road connections between Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and London.
West Berkshire is under pressure to build more houses, but as a primarily rural area, it must strike a balance between expansion and environmental concerns.
A Thames Valley approach could ensure housing targets are met while maintaining the area’s identity.
However, this may not align with the government’s ambitious housing ambitions and timeline.
In short, a Thames Valley devolution model would benefit West Berkshire by strengthening economic linkages while preventing its semi-rural character from being swamped by the urban objectives of Reading or Slough.
Local governance in England is often described as a patchwork.
specific places have district and county councils that each provide specific services; others have a single council that handles everything, with a mayor in charge.
Rayner’s goal is to make the system consistent throughout England.
As a result, bins and libraries, as well as planning and recreation centers, will all be managed by a single council.
The Government claims that merging councils may save £2 billion.
This comes against a grim picture of council budgets across the country. West Berkshire has just approached the government for a £16 million bailout.
West Berkshire could look west for a devolution solution, much as Wiltshire’s brash and contrasting town of Swindon appears to seek east.
Swindon Borough Council leader Jim Robbins stated that the council has been looking into potential in Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
West Berkshire could join Swindon, Wiltshire, and even South Oxfordshire in a bigger Western Economic Partnership. (However, recent remarks suggest that Swindon is becoming an unpopular bedfellow.)
Bethia Thomas, leader of the Vale of White Horse District Council, claimed that she would prefer that the strategic authority region be focused on Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire West (also known as the BOB) or the Thames Valley.
She clarified: “I would not support the inclusion of Swindon within such an authority, because I do not believe that they are economically or demographically linked to the BOB or the wider Thames Valley area in the same way the Berkshires or Buckinghamshire are.”
However, it could result in a more balanced devolution group, reducing emphasis on Reading while keeping economic linkages along the M4.
Again, West Berkshire might benefit from economic diversification.
Swindon and Wiltshire have strong logistics, engineering, and defence sectors that complement West Berkshire’s business landscape, such as Vodafone and AWE’s presence in Burghfield and Aldermaston.
Instead of focusing on the Thames Valley-London axis, transportation investment in this region may be directed toward enhancing connectivity between Swindon, Newbury, and Oxford.
For years, there has been talk about the ‘halo’ link that would connect Cambridge, Milton Keynes, and Oxford with the Harwell science park, which is just up the A34 from Newbury.
So far, West Berkshire’s Lib Dem administration has remained silent about its preference.
Despite this, council leader Jeff Brooks attends regular meetings with adjacent councils on the subject.
West Berks remains linked with the other five Berkshire councils, having submitted a joint expression of interest form to the government in September to begin discussions regarding devolution without a mayor.
Bracknell Forest BC, Slough BC, Windsor and Maidenhead RBC, Reading BC, Wokingham BC, and West Berkshire Council opted to proceed with a county-wide arrangement that excludes a mayoral option, despite concerns that it would push their request “down in the queue.”
The unitaries’ political makeup includes two Labour, two Liberal Democrats, one Conservative minority-led administration, and one partnership between the borough’s first independents and the Liberal Democrats.
So political and geographical Jenga must be played on both a county and multi-county scale.
West Berkshire has a distinct personality when contrasted to more urbanized areas of Berkshire.
A collaboration with western neighbours may allow for more local impact rather than being dominated by Reading’s requirements.
A Thames Valley combined authority would most likely offer the best economic potential, connecting West Berkshire to Reading, Oxford, and the broader knowledge industry.
However, a collaboration between Western Berkshire and Swindon would allow for a more locally focused, less London-centric approach, bringing governance closer to local needs.
Finally, the optimal approach depends on whether West Berkshire prioritizes economic integration with the Thames Valley or wants a more balanced regional identity with Swindon and Wiltshire.
Wiltshire, Dorset, and Somerset councils have banded together to propose sharing a mayor for what they plan to call Wessex.
If the M4 corridor were to become a devolved economic zone, it may benefit from a focused growth strategy similar to that seen in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.
The M4 corridor is renowned for congestion, with important junctions like Bristol, Reading, and Heathrow frequently experiencing bottlenecks.
Devolution may enable councils to take a more strategic, coordinated approach to transportation planning. With authority over local transportation funds, governments might invest in smart traffic management technologies, improved train connections, and improved bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Devolution, while its potential benefits, does not come without problems.
Councils must traverse complex governance frameworks while ensuring that increased powers are appropriately managed and that diverse sectors receive equitable funding.
The establishment of elected mayors or combined authorities may cause disputes between current councils and new regional bodies.
Furthermore, funding remains a challenge. While devolution promises greater local autonomy, it does not always result in improved financial support.
Furthermore, municipalities must ensure that decentralised budgets are sufficient to meet infrastructure and public service requirements.
The administration has set a three-year timeframe for all of this. Which, given the complexity of it all, seemed ambitious.
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