In the Government’s Devolution White Paper (published in December 2024), the main thrust was on create a new tier of Strategic Authorities with responsibility for broader topics such as Stimulating Economic Growth and Planning Transport Developments. This was the key objective, but discussion since then has been dominated by the imposed rush to move to Unitary Authorities.

As a result, there has been no public debate about the proposal from the Conservative Leader of Surrey County Council that the current boundaries of Surrey are well-suited to become a Strategic Authority with an Elected Mayor. The main argument seems to be that none of the neighbouring areas has agreed to work with Surrey. 

We have significant concerns about this decision being made without due consideration. The following are among the issues we believe should be considered:

• Surrey’s historic boundaries have been overtaken by events and no longer match economic activity areas. For example, Gatwick Airport is just across the border in Sussex but is clearly a major driver of economic activity and local transport needs. Likewise, the border with Hampshire follows the Blackwater River which now divides a single economic area comprising Farnham, Camberley, Aldershot and Farnborough.
• Surrey’s geography makes it a route rather than a destination for most transport corridors, eg the M23 to Brighton, the A3 to Portsmouth and the M3 to Southampton. So it makes no sense as a unit for transport planning.
• Surrey doesn’t have the necessary scale to be able to influence strategic change in our area. It will always be dominated by the sheer size of our neighbour in London.

These factors suggest that this topic needs much more detailed consideration than the Government or the County Council seem prepared to give it. Without this, it will fail to meet the Government’s aspirations for a Mayoral Strategic Authority and will be unable to benefit from the potential of increased devolution of powers from Westminster.

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