Manchester’s “game-changing” integrated funding settlement key to unlocking growth

The Government has confirmed that Greater Manchester will receive an historic £630m funding settlement, as part of its so-called “trailblazing” devolution deal.

The new integrated settlement replaces a system of separate funding pots from different Government departments and gives Greater Manchester more freedom and flexibility to fund local services and invest in its priorities including transport.

It will also enable the combined authority to deliver its ten-year growth plan and deliver tens of thousands of new homes and jobs over that period.

Welcoming the new settlement, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said, “This is the biggest step yet on Greater Manchester’s devolution journey, and we are ready to crack on and deliver for our residents.

“With more freedom and flexibility we can be even smarter about funding local services. We can take a preventative approach, getting to the root causes of the issues facing our communities and delivering more practical everyday support.

“We’ve set out an ambitious long-term vision to deliver thousands of new homes and jobs at a pace and scale not seen in the past 20 years. This game-changing integrated settlement will be the key to unlocking that growth for generations to come.”