Cornwall Council says Devon defence agreement won't lead to combined authority
The council is reassuring people the £4.4 billion investment deal focuses solely on Cornwall’s interests.
Cornwall Council leaders have reassured that a new collaboration with Devon councils to support a £4.4 billion defence investment at the Devonport naval base will not result in forming a combined "Devonwall" authority.
The reassurance came during a meeting at the council's Lys Kernow headquarters on 29th October, as councillors debated the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Cornwall Council, Plymouth City Council, Devon County Council, and Torbay Council. The agreement focuses on maximising economic benefits for Cornwall linked to the Defence Growth Deal at HMNB Devonport in Plymouth.
The investment is expected to create over 7,500 jobs at Devonport, including 5,500 roles at Babcock International alone, alongside opportunities in defence, construction, engineering, and marine industries.
Cornwall Council's strategic director Phil Mason called the investment a “transformative opportunity” for Cornwall's economic development. He said it could open up new employment prospects for residents while driving improvements in housing, transport, and skills training.
“There is nothing that is hidden in the terms of the intent of what we’re trying to do," Mason said. "Essentially, if we don’t work together, that investment will take place in any case, but it might mean people being bused in from other parts of the country. We don’t want that to be the story for Cornwall.”
While welcoming cross-border collaboration, Mebyon Kernow leader Councillor Dick Cole voiced concerns that such agreements could jeopardise Cornwall’s devolution ambitions.
“Agreeing some form of Devonwall MoU could be used to undermine our principal objective of securing meaningful devolution,” he said. "We’ve got to be so careful on how this is done…Co-operation, no problem, but it’s got to be done carefully."
Responding to these concerns, Cornwall Council leader Councillor Leigh Frost clarified that the MoU would contain specific assurances that the agreement is purely collaborative and not related to any governance arrangements.
“This is not any precursor to any sort of combined authority or governance arrangement," Frost said. "It’s purely based on working together to maximise the benefits of the Devonport investment. The key thing to highlight is that 23% of employees at Devonport already come from Cornwall—so the investment has a significant impact on our residents."
Cllr Frost also reassured councillors that pursuing collaboration with Devon councils on this initiative would not conflict with Cornwall’s long-term goal of securing greater devolution as a ‘fifth nation’ within the UK.
“In terms of wider devolution, it doesn’t change the view at all," Frost said, adding that recent meetings with Government on the matter had been encouraging. “I don’t think we should shy away from a Devonport deal just because it’s in England.”
To ensure collaboration remains focused on Cornwall’s needs, three cabinet members will form a new working group to provide oversight of how the region responds to investment opportunities at Devonport.
Ultimately, Cllr Frost approved the MoU at the conclusion of the meeting, marking the first ‘Individual Decision Day’ at Cornwall Council.
“It makes sense to enter this agreement with our neighbours to ensure the people of Cornwall benefit, particularly in south east and mid-Cornwall," Frost stated.
This landmark decision reflects growing regional cooperation while maintaining Cornwall’s commitment to pursuing greater devolved powers.