Lancashire Combined County Authority

What Lancashire Combined County Authority does

Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA) is a statutory public sector body launched on 5 February 2025 under the Lancashire Devolution Deal, bringing together Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council, and Blackpool Council to coordinate strategic functions across a 1.53 million resident, £40bn GVA economy. It exercises devolved powers from central government over transport, skills and adult education, innovation, trade and investment, and economic regeneration. LCCA does not operate proprietary technology; it functions as a governance, funding, and coordination layer over its constituent councils and delivery partners.

LCCA delivers a portfolio of government services and capital programmes rather than commercial products. Key initiatives include the Lancashire Growth Plan (mapping £20bn of investment opportunities), the Local Transport Plan 2025-2045, the Adult Skills Fund (£40m annually supporting 36,000+ residents), the Lancashire Skills Pledge (337 businesses engaged against 771 Pledges), Connect to Work (supported employment for disadvantaged groups), and the £2.3m Future Ready Fund. Capital projects include the Innovation Hub at Samlesbury Enterprise Zone (linked to the National Cyber Force), the Silicon Sands low-carbon data centre at Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, the Innovation Quarter regeneration in Blackburn town centre, and new DWP offices in Blackpool delivering 3,000+ workers into the town centre. From 1 April 2026, LCCA became the sole Local Transport Authority for the county with a £640m+ four-year funding settlement.

LCCA's business model is public sector funding-driven rather than commercial. It is funded through central government devolution grants (£20m initial preparation funding, £640m+ transport settlement, £40m Adult Skills Fund), contributions from constituent councils, and partner co-funding (e.g., £2.3m from JPMorganChase for the Future Ready Fund). It does not charge for services or sell products; revenue is allocated to projects, programmes, and commissioned delivery partners. GTM is policy- and consultation-led via public sector engagement, council coordination, and investor forums such as UKREiiF and the Great North Investment Summit. Customer concentration is structurally critical as HM Government is effectively the sole principal funder.

Name

Lancashire Combined County Authority

Legal name

Lancashire Combined County Authority

Website

https://lancashire-cca.gov.uk

Company type

Public

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lancashire Combined County Authority is a statutory public sector body coordinating transport, skills, and economic development across Lancashire's 1.53 million residents and three constituent councils, funded primarily by central government devolution grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Government Administration

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Other General Government Support (921190), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512)

SIC

Non-Operating Establishments (9995)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Transit Agencies (Bus, Rail, Metro, Paratransit) (BPAIALAB), State/Provincial Transportation, Roads & Public Works Administration (BPAIABAK)

Keywords

• Combined county authority
• Devolved government services
• Local transport authority
• Skills and employment programmes
• Regional economic development

Headquarters

HQ city

Preston

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Devolution and Government Grant Funding: LCCA receives its primary revenue through central government devolution deal allocations, grants, and funding settlements. This includes the initial £20m preparation funding, £640m+ transport settlement over four years, £40m Adult Skills Fund, £500m Local Innovation Partnership Fund (bid), and other sector-specific grants. Revenue is allocated to projects and programmes rather than generated through commercial sales.
2. Council Contributions and Partner Funding: LCCA receives contributions from constituent councils (Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council, Blackpool Council) and co-funding from partners for joint initiatives. Project co-funding examples include £4m LCCA grant for St John's Church rebuild matched by £3.75m insurance settlement.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lancashire Combined County Authority is a statutory public sector combined county authority that coordinates transport, skills and adult education, and economic development across Lancashire on behalf of its three constituent councils. It delivers publicly funded programmes and projects, including the Lancashire Growth Plan, Get Lancashire Working Plan, Local Transport Plan 2025-2045, Adult Skills Fund, Future Ready Fund, Connect to Work, Lancashire Skills Pledge, Innovation Hub at Samlesbury, Silicon Sands data centre, Innovation Quarter Blackburn, and DWP offices in Blackpool, funded through central government devolution grants and council contributions.

Product overview

Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA) is a government authority providing public sector services rather than a commercial product company. The LCCA delivers a portfolio of initiatives including economic development programmes (Lancashire Growth Plan, Lancashire Skills Pledge), digital infrastructure projects (Silicon Sands Data Centre, Innovation Hub at Samlesbury, Innovation Quarter), employment support (Get Lancashire Working Plan, Connect to Work, Future Ready Fund), transport planning (Local Transport Plan 2025-2045), and skills development (Adult Skills Fund supporting 36,000+ adults annually). These are government services and initiatives, not commercial software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• LCCA adopted the Lancashire Growth Plan mapping £20bn of additional public and private investment opportunities
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Lancashire County CouncilcoreOthers · 5 February 2025Lancashire County Council is one of the three constituent councils forming the LCCA. It is the largest local authority in the partnership, led by County Councillor Stephen Atkinson who serves as Chair of LCCA. The council continues to deliver local services while ceding strategic functions to LCCA.
• Blackburn with Darwen CouncilcoreOthers · 5 February 2025Blackburn with Darwen Council is a constituent unitary authority of LCCA. Led by Councillor Phil Riley (Leader) who serves as Chair of LCCA Transport Advisory Board. Hosts projects including the Innovation Quarter, Cyber Campus, and St John's Church digital hub.
• Blackpool CouncilcoreOthers · 5 February 2025Blackpool Council is a constituent unitary authority of LCCA. Led by Councillor Lynn Williams (Leader) who serves as Chair of LCCA Economy Advisory Board. Leads on Silicon Sands data centre project and DWP offices, bringing 3,000+ workers into the town centre.
• The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Careers & Enterprise Company is the national body for careers education in England and delivers the £2.3m Future Ready Fund in Lancashire. In partnership with JPMorganChase, CEC works with the Lancashire Careers Hub to provide modern work experience for 375 students from 25 schools across three years.
• Rosebud (Lancashire County Council's Business Growth Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRosebud offers loans from £25,000 to £100,000 to Lancashire businesses and has played a pivotal role in the region's business ecosystem for over 35 years. Rosebud renews its focus on early-stage and growing businesses to drive economic growth and prepare businesses for investment.
• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)majorOthersDWP is receiving £4m funding from LCCA for new town centre offices in Blackpool, expected to bring over 3,000 workers into the town centre. DWP funding also supports the Connect to Work programme for residents with disabilities and health conditions.
• National Cyber ForcemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Cyber Force is based at Samlesbury Enterprise Zone, with LCCA's Innovation Hub providing a dedicated space for Lancashire businesses and key sectors to engage with the National Cyber Force and its supply chain, opening new jobs and opportunities across the Lancashire economy.
• Great North PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Great North is a partnership of northern mayors and leaders (16m people region) chaired by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness. Lancashire participates alongside Liverpool City Region, Tees Valley, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, York & North Yorkshire, Hull & East Yorkshire, Cheshire & Warrington, and Cumbria to present a unified £14bn+ investment proposition to national and international investors.
• Office for Investment (OFI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOFI developed the Great North investment prospectus in collaboration with northern mayors and leaders. The prospectus showcases £14bn+ transformative projects and was launched at the Great North Investment Summit with Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
• NatWestmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatWest partnered with OFI to deliver the Great North Investment Summit in Leeds, bringing together Northern Mayors, Treasury Ministers, and leading business voices to unlock investment and long-term growth across the North of England.
• Lancashire Business BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Lancashire Business Board, comprised of industry leaders, facilitates private sector involvement in shaping local growth plans and encourages feedback from small businesses. Chaired by Mo Isap, it advocates for social value and economic growth across Lancashire.
• Connect to Work Programme (DWP-funded)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnect to Work is a national initiative managed locally by the Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub, delivered by specialists in supported employment. The programme offers personalised support to people with disabilities, long-term health conditions, veterans, carers, and domestic violence survivors to secure and sustain employment. Fully funded by DWP.
• Blackpool Housing CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlackpool Housing Company contracted Evolution construction company for housing maintenance services where social value was a scored procurement criterion (20% weighting). The contract has delivered local employment (90% Blackpool workforce), apprenticeships, and community initiatives.
• Barnfield Construction LtdminorOthersBarnfield Construction Ltd has been named as the main contractor for the £8.85 million St John's Church rebuild project in Blackburn. Works are scheduled to commence summer 2026 with completion expected by early 2028.
• OMI ArchitectsminorOthersOMI Architects designed the St John's Church redevelopment project in Blackburn, which will transform the Grade II heritage-listed building destroyed by fire in April 2019 into a digital business and creative hub.
• Lancashire Universities (x5)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll five Lancashire universities supported the CCA formation through the public consultation and are represented on the Lancashire Innovation Board steering group for the Local Innovation Partnership Fund bid. Universities contribute academic expertise, research capacity, and skills development to support Lancashire's growth sectors.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• West Midlands Combined Authority: Larger, established mayoral combined authority with an expanded remit including police, fire and housing functions. Broader incumbent; operates the same devolved model but over a much larger population and budget than LCCA.

Direct peers

• Liverpool City Region Combined Authority: Maritime-logistics-led combined authority with devolved transport, skills and economic development responsibilities covering six councils. Closely comparable as a North-of-England combined authority pursuing investment and transport devolution.
• Greater Manchester Combined Authority: The UK's most established combined authority, taking devolved transport, skills and economic development powers for a 2.8m-population region. Directly comparable to LCCA as a statutory combined authority exercising devolved functions across multiple constituent councils.
• Tees Valley Combined Authority: Mayoral combined authority covering five councils in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool with shared devolved powers. Comparable as a smaller-population combined authority pursuing investment-led regeneration.
• South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority: Combined authority covering Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, with shared devolved transport and skills funding streams and a comparable governance footprint. Directly comparable as a multi-council combined authority structure.
• North East Combined Authority: Combined authority covering Northumberland, Newcastle, Gateshead and other Tyneside councils. Directly comparable as a North-of-England devolved authority and LCCA's partner in the Great North Partnership for joint investment propositions.
• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority: England's first non-mayoral combined authority, covering a largely county-based geography with constituent councils — the closest governance twin to LCCA's combined county authority structure.
• West Yorkshire Combined Authority: Mayoral combined authority covering Leeds, Bradford and surrounding councils, with devolved transport and skills functions analogous to LCCA's remit. Directly comparable as a UK combined authority coordinating economic and transport strategy for a multi-council geography.

Emerging players

• Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority: Newly formed combined authority covering Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire. Comparable emerging combined authority in the North of England with similar transport and skills remits to LCCA.
• York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority: Recently established combined authority covering York, North Yorkshire council and formerly Craven. Comparable as a newly-formed combined county authority structure, useful as a peer on early-stage devolution implementation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lancashirecca
• Facebookfacebook.com/LancashireCCA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lancashirecca

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lancashire Combined County Authority