Submission to Government for North Somerset to join WECA take place this week

A move to bring North Somerset into the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has taken a significant step forward after receiving support from both councillors and local residents.

The decision follows a public consultation in which 56.7 per cent of respondents backed the proposal, opening the door for stronger regional cooperation on key issues including transport, housing, skills development, and investment.

West of England Mayor Helen Godwin (Centre) with WECA council leaders (Photo: WECA)

WECA currently consists of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire. If approved, North Somerset would become a full member of the combined authority, strengthening collaboration across the wider region.

A formal submission to the government is expected after a meeting of the mayor and council leaders scheduled for Friday, June 5.

Helen Godwin, mayor of the West of England, welcomed the development, saying:

“Council leaders and I, backed by people across the West, want to work even more closely together as a complete region, adding to projects like the £200m reopening of the Portishead Line.

“North Somerset becoming a full member of the combined authority will only further amplify the West Country’s voice, helping secure more funding to make an even bigger difference for residents.

“As we make the case for more control of our funding and how it is spent, this is an important step forward for the West of England.”

The government has identified the West of England as the most suitable strategic partnership for North Somerset and has already committed an additional £1 million to help support the transition process.

This funding comes on top of around £1 billion in investment that has been announced for the area since May 2025.

North Somerset Council leader Mike Bell described the proposal as a major opportunity for the district.

He said: “This is a significant moment and opportunity for North Somerset.

“By joining the combined authority, we can strengthen our voice and help secure the investment and opportunities our communities need.

“Just as importantly, we want to help shape a partnership that is open, accountable, and genuinely led by the people it serves.

I’m looking forward to continuing work with the mayor and neighbouring leaders to build a better region.”

Expanding WECA would support its aim of becoming an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority, a status that would provide greater powers over funding and decision-making from Westminster.

This enhanced level of devolution would give the region more control over areas such as housing, regeneration, economic growth, transport, skills, retrofitting programmes, and employment support.

The government has also confirmed that future funding allocations would reflect a larger WECA membership and population, potentially increasing investment available for transport, housing, and other regional priorities.

In a joint statement, leaders from Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire highlighted the benefits of deeper regional cooperation. They said:

“It is vital for more decisions about our region to be made here, to help continue to make life better for people around the West, including North Somerset.

“We can do more when we work together across council borders: from delivering new homes and improving transport to securing greater influence and investment now and in the future.

“This is a really exciting time for the West of England.”

If approved by the government, North Somerset’s membership would mark a significant expansion of WECA and could strengthen the region’s ability to secure investment, influence policy, and deliver major projects for local communities.