Devo Act: revolution or repetition?

The past few weeks in Parliament have been dominated by legislative ping-pong on various Bills, including the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. Originally presented as a ‘take back control' Bill in the Labour Party's election manifesto, will this legislation transform England from one of the most centralised systems in the world to a nation where communities feel government works with them rather than against their interests?Why devolution in England has struggled to deliver changeHaving travelled the world working on a range of political reform programmes, I have seen that while political geeks like me get excited about constitutional reform and the statutory functions of strategic authorities, most people do not. The proof of the pudding for most communities is, of course, whether policy change improves daily life. Whether your pub stays open, your kids have a safe place to socialise and your high street prospers.Even among us geeks there is weariness at this stage. England has long been characterised as an over-centralised system stifling ambition, fragmenting infrastructure and exacerbating regional inequalities.In less than two decades, multiple initiatives have attempted to address this, including regional ministers, the Localism Act, City Deals, the Northern Powerhouse, Levelling Up, and many more. It is no wonder enthusiasm is beginning to wane.What the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act could changeSetting cynicism aside, the new Act does create some genuinely promising opportunities.The Community Right to Buy will help local people take ownership of spaces they love and transform their places – and it is something the We're Right Here campaign for community power, supported by organisations including my own, has long called for.New neighbourhood governance arrangements, too, have potential to put communities at the centre of local decision-making. But the overarching ambition to embed ‘Devolution by Default' will require more than the King's Royal Assent to make it a lived reality for communities up and down the country.Why legislation alone is not enough for community empowermentTogether, these reforms could – in theory – shift decision-making to communities. But passing legislation is only the first step. If we are to get community empowerment right this time, it requires turning words on paper into real partnerships at community level and ensuring real decisions and funds flow to where they are most needed. In other words, a genuine shift in how power is shared and exercised.That is because devolving authority to regional or strategic bodies does not automatically mean power reaches communities at the neighbourhood level. Without deliberate effort, decision-making can remain distant and inaccessible. So, to make devolution work in practice, several ingredients are essential: we need capacity-building in communities to enable participation, institutional change within public bodies to support meaningful engagement, long-term investment in local infrastructure and leadership and, across the board, we need a shift in mindset from consultation with communities to genuine collaboration and learning.Studies show that the most left-behind communities and the areas historically most deprived of attention, are often the least equipped to voice their needs. Without addressing this imbalance, devolution risks reinforcing existing inequalities rather than reducing them.The role of participation in building community powerBut capacity gaps are not only found in communities. Institutions and public bodies will also need to go beyond tokenism and integrate meaningful community engagement within their consultation processes – which is likely to involve adapting approaches to accommodate a more diverse range of input.This approach is vital in order to genuinely support community power and drive systems change.A great example is a recent collaboration with the West Midlands Combined Authority, developing a practical new framework for building inclusive and connected communities. This work demonstrates how participation, cross-sector collaboration and long-term thinking can improve the quality of life for residents.From policy to practice: making devolution realFor a long time, communities across England have felt that government is something that has been ‘done to' rather than ‘done with' them. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act signals an understanding that this needs to change.However, turning ambition into reality will take time. To succeed, devolution must deliver visible improvements in people's daily lives, but it must also build trust between communities and institutions, enable genuine local decision-making and support long-term, place-based partnerships. Without these elements, the Act risks becoming the latest in a long line of reforms that promise transformation but deliver limited change.A long-term shift towards community-led changeThis is an important moment – but true community empowerment will not come from legislation alone. It will come from sustained commitment to collaboration and change, ensuring that local people are not just consulted on change, but actively engaged in shaping the future of their places.I hope the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act is an opportunity, but whether it marks a revolution or the same old repetition depends on its implementation across our unique and unevenly-resourced urban, rural and coastal places, and the difference it makes to improve daily life for all of England's communities.Sue Griffiths is chief executive of The Young Foundation

Title

DEVOLUTION

Devo Act: revolution or repetition?

By Sue Griffiths | 05 May 2026

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