Update on Bracknell and Wokingham mega-council region plan

Leaders from across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Swindon had gathered expecting to sign off on a shadow or ‘Foundation’ Strategic Authority (FSA), the interim step required before creating a Thames Valley Mayoral Strategic Authority with elections pencilled in for May 2028.

A potential mayor could bring jobs and development to Oxfordshire, West Berkshire, Reading, Slough, Wokingham, Bracknell Forest, Wokingham, Swindon and Maidenhead – but the joint plans of all these authorities are now on the line.

Participants at the meeting were tight-lipped on Wednesday about what happened but it is understood Oxfordshire’s Liberal Democrat leadership abruptly withdrew support, effectively collapsing months of negotiations.

Lib Dem leaders from Berkshire were thought to remain broadly in favour, however a new authority could have the potential to invest in big projects like a third bridge across the Thames in Reading, and this may have put a spanner in the works.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, which had been part of earlier discussions, was notably absent from today’s talks. Oxfordshire, West Berkshire, Reading, Slough, Wokingham, Bracknell Forest, Swindon and others had been working towards a shared structure for the new body, with only the details still to be ironed out.

The proposed Thames Valley Strategic Authority would have covered a polycentric economic region of about 1.97 million people with a gross value added of £97.3 billion in 2023, bringing together globally significant research hubs, innovation districts and major employers along the M4 and M40 corridors.

In an expression of interest sent to ministers on March 20, local leaders argued that a mayoral authority could unlock an extra £18.7 billion in annual GVA by 2040 and £7 billion a year in additional tax revenue by tackling fragmented labour markets, infrastructure gaps and housing constraints.

The letter to ministers Matthew Pennycook and Miatta Fahnbulleh stressed that the Thames Valley is the only one of the UK’s top ten economies without a directly elected mayor and said “the economic case is made” for devolution.

Under the plans, the shadow authority and later Mayoral Strategic Authority would have taken on strategic functions over transport, housing and regeneration, skills, economic development, climate resilience and public safety, while day-to-day services remained with existing councils.

Central government was understood to be supportive of the scheme and ready to move quickly on approving an FSA once councils had agreed a governance model.

Local business leaders across the Thames Valley, who had backed the proposals as a way to secure clearer leadership on inward investment, skills and infrastructure, are now said to be alarmed that today’s U‑turn could put jobs and investment at risk.

The collapse of support in Oxfordshire leaves the future of Thames Valley devolution highly uncertain, with partner councils now needing to decide whether to attempt a revised deal without the county or to pause plans altogether.

Without the collaboration of local councils, the government could impose a plan with limited input from local partners.

The leaders of Bracknell and Wokingham councils were approached for a comment.