The UK Government has launched a review examining how mayoral authorities in England can develop the skills, resources and organisational capabilities needed to take on greater responsibility for transport planning and delivery.
Led by Vernon Everitt CBE, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, the review will assess how the Department for Transport (DfT), its arm’s-length bodies and wider government can support local leaders in delivering integrated transport networks and major infrastructure programmes.
Known as the Everitt Review, the initiative forms part of the Government’s wider commitment to transferring powers, funding and accountability from Whitehall to mayors and local authorities.
The review follows the Rewiring the State Cabinet Statement, published on 31 July 2026, which outlined plans to expand devolution across England.
Assessing local transport delivery capabilities
The first phase will focus on established mayoral strategic authorities, recognising that different regions have varying levels of experience, resources and expertise in delivering transport services and capital investment programmes.
The review will examine whether authorities have the organisational structures, leadership capabilities and specialist skills required to manage expanded transport responsibilities.
Particular attention will be given to project management, commercial expertise, financial planning and the ability to deliver integrated transport strategies.
For the railway industry, the findings could have implications for how regional rail investment is planned, coordinated and delivered alongside wider public transport networks.
As local authorities take on greater responsibilities, effective collaboration with national railway organisations and infrastructure delivery bodies will become increasingly important.
Strengthening partnerships between government and industry
A central objective of the review is to identify how national government, mayoral authorities, transport organisations and private sector businesses can work more effectively together.
It will consider the conditions needed to strengthen partnerships between regional authorities and national transport delivery bodies, alongside opportunities to share established approaches and expertise.
The review will also examine the support authorities require to develop transport strategies that reflect local economic priorities, including improved connectivity, employment opportunities and regional growth.
Everitt will engage directly with mayors and senior leadership teams, including chief executives, managing directors and transport directors.
The work will draw on expertise from the Urban Transport Group, government departments, transport organisations and the private sector.
Blueprint for future transport devolution
Phase one is expected to take three to four months and will produce a flexible framework outlining how established mayoral authorities can strengthen their transport delivery capabilities.
This will include a proposed development pathway and timeline for individual authorities, reflecting their existing strengths, organisational arrangements and local ambitions.
A second phase will expand the review to cover all mayoral strategic authorities, foundation strategic authorities and areas expected to gain mayoral status in the future.
That phase will further develop and cost the proposed framework, working with the DfT and local authorities to establish practical implementation arrangements.
The findings will ultimately inform an implementation plan for consideration by government and strategic authorities.
Implications for the rail supply chain
For rail infrastructure contractors, engineering consultancies and specialist suppliers, greater transport devolution could influence how future regional investment programmes are developed and managed.
Mayoral authorities with stronger commercial, technical and project delivery capabilities may be better equipped to progress complex transport schemes, coordinate investment and work with industry partners.
However, the review is focused on organisational capability rather than announcing new infrastructure funding or transferring specific railway responsibilities.
Its significance for the sector will depend on how the recommendations are implemented and whether they help authorities develop credible, deliverable transport investment programmes.
The Everitt Review represents a further step towards a more locally led approach to transport planning, with the potential to strengthen regional decision-making and improve coordination between national and local transport priorities.
