Regional mayors launch new partnership to support Peak District

Combined authority mayors representing South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and the East Midlands have come together to launch a new partnership agreement covering the Peak District National Park which is shared across the three areas.

Mayor of the East Midlands Claire Ward, Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester and Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire met in Buxton to launch The Peak Partnership. The agreement will see mayors, local authorities and other stakeholders work together on the future approach to the national park.

Initial discussions between Mayors will focus on transport, stronger rural communities, housing and skills, and supporting a thriving visitor economy for the Peak District. The Peak District consistently ranks in the top three most visited destinations in the UK, with nearly 14 million international and domestic visitors each year, supporting 30,000 direct and indirect jobs across the three regions and delivering a near £3 billion annual economic impact. While the national park is predominantly in Derbyshire, people live, work and travel between the regions daily.

The initial focus of the Partnership will be:

• Transforming the Snake Pass and rural network to deliver long-term resilience in vital cross-Pennine routes such as the Snake Pass (A57) and Woodhead Pass (A628), working jointly with National Highways, Government, and local authorities.
• Boosting the visitor economy through spreading visitor demand and protect the environment, while ensuring that economic benefits are felt across the three regions. 
• Improving rural access and active travel by championing investment in rural bus services and rail connections, promoting inclusive access – with a particular focus on young people, people living with a disability and disadvantaged communities.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

“The Peak Partnership is about recognising that our regions are stronger when we work together. The Peak District connects us geographically, but it also connects our ambitions – for better transport, stronger communities, and a growing economy that works for everyone. 

“By investing in rural infrastructure and improving sustainable travel links, we’re not only making it easier for people to get around, we’re unlocking new opportunities for tourism, business, and local jobs. This is about building a future where the beauty of the Peaks is matched by the strength of the connections between our people and our economies.” 

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: 

“This is a landmark moment for the East Midlands and our neighbours in Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire. The Peak District is one of the UK’s most iconic landscapes and it is a shared treasure for us all. By working together through the Peak Partnership, we can tackle long-standing challenges like the resilience of the Snake Pass, improve transport links, and unlock new opportunities for visitors and residents alike. This is about thinking bigger than our own boundaries, protecting what makes the Peaks special while making it easier for people to live, work, and thrive here for generations to come.” 

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard said:

“My job is to bring investment, opportunity and growth to every corner of South Yorkshire, tackling the challenges which have held us back for far too long. Infrastructure projects on the Snake Pass and Woodhead Pass will create better connections across the Peak District and between the big cities of the North, helping build a bigger, better economy.“