Local government directors have welcomed new prime minister Andy Burnham's ten-year mission 'to deliver good growth in every postcode' through a 'place-first' devolution agenda.
In a briefing to the media in the run-up to his first speech as PM, Mr Burnham pledged to 'take power back from Westminster and Whitehall' and give it to local places.
His ambitions include reforming utilities and delivering re-industrialisation and regeneration.
Mr Burnham formally took over from Keir Starmer after meeting King Charles at Buckingham Palace today, becoming the seventh UK prime minister in a decade.
His opening message was welcomed by council directors' body, ADEPT, which said it 'shares and has long championed' the same ideals.
However, Katie Stewart, ADEPT president, stressed that 'any extension of devolution must be backed by sustained, flexible funding and strong partnership across all sectors - national and local government, business, academia and communities working together'. She said: 'Our members - the place directors leading environment, economy, planning and transport services across the country - know first-hand that sustainable growth, good housing and resilient infrastructure depend on local knowledge, local leadership and collaboration.
'We particularly welcome the Prime Minister's recognition that the imbalance of resources between national and local government is holding back growth and his commitment to give local areas greater control over the essentials - from buses and housing to high streets - that shape people's everyday lives.
'We welcome the commitment to see the positive in all places. His recognition that rural and coastal communities have been overlooked for too long is significant: devolution must not only be offered to cities and indeed, must reach beyond. Empowering rural economies and coastal towns is essential if every community is to share in growth and in Britain's ambition to be a leading innovation nation.
'Place-based collaboration as the new operating principle for UK plc is a statement we fully endorse. As the government sets out its plans in the coming weeks, we are ready to play our part in turning this vision into delivery on the ground."
The Prime Minister addressed ADEPT members directly on the devolution agenda as a keynote speaker at the Association's Autumn Conference in November 2025, held under the theme ‘Devolution and government reform – the biggest shake-up the sector has seen for 50 years?'.
