How to engage with a strategic authority

Following the government’s manifesto commitment to decentralise power, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill was introduced to Parliament in July 2025 and is expected to gain Royal Assent in 2026. The Bill aims to streamline devolution, making it easier for regions to form strategic authorities and gain more powers and funding from the central government. It introduces three new tiers of government: foundation strategic authority, mayoral strategic authority and established mayoral strategic authority. Further details on the bill and the changes it introduces can be found in our devolution briefing.

The Bill seeks to empower mayors and local leaders with greater autonomy and decision-making authority, strengthen community involvement through new community empowerment plans, and expand devolved powers over key regional priorities such as infrastructure, jobs, skills, and housing.

In December 2025, the government announced the postponement of the mayoral elections that had been due to take place in May 2026 in Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton, Hampshire and the Solent and Norfolk and Suffolk until 2028. Local government reorganisation in these regions will proceed in the meantime, and new strategic authorities will be created ahead of the mayoral elections in 2028. This creates an opportunity to begin engagement now, both with authorities and, eventually, mayoral candidates once they are selected. It also means housing associations in those areas can establish housing partnerships and create prospectuses well in advance of the elections.

This briefing explains what a strategic authority is, the roles and responsibilities of the different officials and how best to engage with them.