AN eight-week consultation on whether North Somerset Council should join the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority has found that respondents across the West back the proposal.

Headline results revealed by the authority show 56.7 per cent in favour of the expansion, with 37.6 percent opposed, and 5.7 percent uncertain.

A detailed analysis of the more than 1,200 responses received will take place over the coming weeks before being published.

The consultation, which closed on Monday (April 13), followed the Mayor and council leaders negotiations with national government securing an additional £15-million in the short term for projects in the region should North Somerset join.

Unprecedented investment has been announced for the area since May last year, bringing the total to almost £1-billion.

The government has also committed that, should the expansion proceed, future funding will “take account of an expanded WECA geography and population” increasing future allocations of funding transport improvements and a new national housing fund.

North Somerset joining would add 23 per cent to the combined authority’s population, to a total of 1.225-million, bringing the benefits of devolution to another almost quarter of a million more people.

Altogether, the West has the strongest recent economic growth of any region in the country and has grown at four times the national average since 2019.

The consultation also followed the Government’s English Devolution White Paper, which requires every local authority area to be part of a strategic authority with the government confirming the authority as best fit for North Somerset.

Helen Godwin, mayor of the West of England, said: "North Somerset has felt like the missing piece of our devolution jigsaw over the last nine years, not only for all local council leaders but for businesses and residents around the region.

“We will carefully consider the detailed consultation results, as we work together to continue the momentum we have built up.

“It's clear that the West's future will be one of real collaboration and partnership, and we can see that people support that. Since May, we have secured around £1 billion of investment from national government - a figure that, like our regional economy - will keep growing as we make the West Country's voice heard in this new chapter.”

Leader of North Somerset Council, Cllr Mike Bell, said: “We welcome the results of this consultation, which show a preference among respondents for joining the West of England Combined Authority.

“The clear message coming through from those that took part is that people believe we are stronger together - able to make faster progress in reducing inequality and unlocking access to more impactful funding that can deliver real benefits for North Somerset.

“While we look forward to receiving the additional detail and data from the consultation in the coming weeks, we are encouraged by the headline statistics so far.”

Subject to Secretary of State approval, and legislation to be considered at the October meeting, North Somerset would become a full member of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority from late 2026 or early 2027.