May 2026 Director’s Blog: Devolution Planning Progress at GCR
The last blog provided a detailed update on the context for Regional empowerment and our proposed approach.
We welcome the clear shift signalled by both the Scottish and UK Governments towards more empowered regional structures, backed up by independent reviews and academic research.
I reflected on the strong foundations Glasgow City Region has in place on which to underpin our future plans and ambitions.
Last year was our most productive and ambitious to date, consolidating our position as one of the largest Regions in the UK.
We have a growing portfolio of over £2 billion, a strong team and partnership, the confidence and the tools in place to take on further powers and funding which will put us on an equal standing with comparable regions across the wider UK.
At this week’s Cabinet a further series of measures were approved / updated as part of work to develop a Regional devolution proposal.
Steering Group / Workstreams
Chairs for the dedicated policy workstreams have been approved. The workstreams, which will include expertise from across the Region, will now move forward, tasked with developing proposals which bring additionality to the Region, focus on devolution down from central government rather than up from local authorities and which do not impact on other funding arrangements, including the local government finance settlement.
| Workstream | Chair |
| Place (Housing, Infrastructure and Planning) | Ross Nimmo, Head of Place, Glasgow City Region |
| Skills | Stella McManus, South Lanarkshire College |
| Economic Development | Jane Martin, Scottish Enterprise |
| Transport | Valerie Davidson, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport |
| Innovation | GEL Innovation Group |
| Investment | Graham Smith, Glasgow City Council |
An additional workstream on inclusion and poverty reduction will also be established, with a Chair identified in the coming weeks. And we will develop inclusive growth principles to embed within each of the workstreams as part of the TORs to ensure that our approach focuses on supporting the development of an economy which works for all residents.
A new Regional Skills Manager has taken up post this month and will support the development of the skills proposition through the workstream.
And importantly, a Steering Group has been established to oversee the development of the detailed proposition. This will be chaired by Professor Sir Jim McDonald, former Principal of University of Strathclyde, Chair of GEL and Chair of Scottish Enterprise.
Engagement with Government
Following the Scottish Parliamentary election, engagement is now underway with senior Scottish Government civil servants to discuss timescales for planned legislation.
And at UKREiiF, engagement took place with senior officials in HMT and Core Cities to discuss UK Government involvement in the development of the GCR Devolution Deal.
Support and Investment
Two pieces of supporting consultancy support are being commissioned.
Firstly, we will commission external support to support the workstreams and to help us to develop a coherent, compelling GCR devolution proposal covering the thematic workstreams.
An award of £50,000 from the Scottish Government to support this will be deployed in addition to existing PMO funding.
In addition, Glasgow City Council has commissioned consultancy support to identify and attract new sources of capital into Glasgow and the wider Region, with a particular focus on considering whether an Impact Fund, similar to those in Greater Manchester and London to accelerate housing development, should be created here. This work will consider what options should be included within the devolution proposal and will support the activity of the Investment Workstream.
Earlier this month, a coordinated approach to inward investment was trialled at UKREiiF, with projects from across the Region promoted to investors through the Invest Glasgow stand.
And I’m delighted that the National Wealth Fund has agreed to provide strategic advice to the Investment workstream as well as across other areas as detailed propositions are developed.
Our approach is certainly taking shape and involves us working closely with partners across government, the eight councils, universities, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, business and industry.
And we remain on track for submission of a full proposal by March 2027.