Brighton & Hove City Council has formally approved the next stage in advancing devolution for the region, giving its consent to the creation of a new Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) for Sussex and Brighton. The decision, agreed at this week’s Cabinet meeting, marks a decisive moment in the city’s long-term push to secure greater local control over economic growth, housing, transport, and skills development.
The proposed Sussex and Brighton MCCA would bring together the upper-tier local authorities of East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council, and Brighton & Hove City Council under a single strategic framework led by a directly elected mayor. The aim is to unlock new funding and devolved powers from central government, enabling Sussex to compete more effectively with other regions that already benefit from devolution deals, such as Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, and the North East.
Council Leader Bella Sankey said the creation of a Mayoral Authority represented “a significant step forward in unlocking new funding and opportunities for our region.”
“It will enable us to secure greater investment and deliver ambitious plans for job creation, affordable homes, and integrated public transport,” she said. “Through a Mayoral Authority for Sussex and Brighton we can shape a stronger, more connected, and economically vibrant future for our city and region.”
The Cabinet’s approval follows several months of discussion with partners across Sussex and engagement with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). Under government guidance, any new Combined County Authority (CCA) requires the formal consent of all participating upper-tier councils before a deal can be finalised and laid before Parliament.
Once all councils in Sussex have given their consent, the Government will begin the legislative process to create the new body — a move that would pave the way for the first Sussex Mayoral election in May 2026.
What devolution means for Sussex and Brighton
If approved, the Sussex and Brighton Mayoral Combined County Authority would take on a range of strategic powers and funding streams that currently sit with Whitehall. These would include investment funds to support regional economic growth, housing delivery and regeneration projects, local transport planning, and the coordination of skills and employment initiatives.
The combined authority would act as a platform for joint decision-making across local government, business, and education partners, strengthening coordination between councils and reducing duplication of effort. Proponents argue that such an arrangement would allow Sussex to speak with a unified voice when bidding for government funding or attracting private investment — something that has historically been fragmented across local boundaries.
In practical terms, a Sussex-wide devolution deal could unlock hundreds of millions of pounds in additional funding over the coming decade. For Brighton & Hove, that could mean new opportunities to deliver affordable homes, invest in public transport connectivity, and expand green and digital infrastructure.
It could also strengthen the region’s response to shared challenges — from the cost-of-living crisis and climate adaptation to coastal erosion, workforce shortages, and the need for better east-west transport links.
A regional approach to growth
Supporters of the new Mayoral Authority argue that a unified Sussex model would reflect the region’s interdependent economy and shared infrastructure. The county’s major employment centres — including Brighton, Worthing, Crawley, Chichester, Hastings, and Eastbourne — already rely heavily on each other’s labour markets and transport networks.
By aligning housing growth, skills training, and transport investment, the new authority could help unlock cross-boundary projects that are currently constrained by fragmented governance. Examples might include accelerating rail and bus integration across the coast, supporting low-carbon industry clusters, and developing innovation corridors linked to the universities of Brighton, Sussex, and Chichester.
In addition, local leaders believe a Mayoral Authority could give Sussex a stronger national voice. Regions with combined authorities have, in recent years, benefited from direct access to ministers and greater influence over central policy design. Metro mayors such as Andy Burnham (Greater Manchester) and Andy Street (West Midlands) have shown how devolved leadership can leverage investment and drive local growth agendas that respond to regional needs.
Balancing local identity and collaboration
While the proposal has broad support across Sussex, some councillors and residents have expressed concern about ensuring that local identities and decision-making are not diluted under a single regional structure. Brighton & Hove’s leadership has been clear that devolution will enhance, not replace, local democracy.
“The intention is not to centralise power away from our communities,” a council spokesperson explained, “but to bring powers and funding closer to them by negotiating directly with government through a Sussex Mayor.”
The proposed governance model would retain the autonomy of existing councils while creating a joint strategic layer focused on major investment and development decisions. Each constituent authority would continue to manage its own local services, from housing management to waste collection, while the Mayoral Authority would concentrate on growth, infrastructure, and economic planning.
Next steps
With Brighton & Hove now formally on board, attention turns to West and East Sussex County Councils, which are expected to consider their own approvals in the coming weeks. Once all have agreed, officials will submit the final proposal to DLUHC for consideration. The government will then undertake public consultation and prepare the statutory order to establish the new authority, expected to be laid before Parliament in 2025.
If the timetable proceeds as planned, Sussex could join the next wave of English regions with devolved powers by spring 2026, with elections for a directly elected mayor taking place shortly afterwards.
For Brighton & Hove, the hope is that this new arrangement will provide a stronger platform to deliver on the city’s priorities: inclusive growth, affordable housing, better transport connectivity, and action on climate change.
Council Leader Sankey summed up the ambition:
“Brighton & Hove is proud to play its part in shaping the future of Sussex. Devolution is about unlocking potential — for our people, our businesses, and our communities. By working together across the region, we can secure the powers and resources needed to build a fairer, greener, and more prosperous Sussex for generations to come.”
