Giving councils the most money ever to tackle potholes and seeing the first residents move into the thousands of new homes unlocked for development are among the key highlights as Mayor Claire Ward celebrates her second anniversary in office.
After being elected the inaugural Mayor of the East Midlands in May 2024, Mayor Claire is now celebrating the halfway mark of her term of office, highlighting a period of major investment, strengthened regional partnerships and a renewed focus on growth, skills and opportunity.
Alongside building the East Midlands Combined County Authority from the ground up – something the Mayor describes as akin to flying a plane while you build it – Mayor Claire has secured billions of pounds towards her key priorities alongside attending hundreds of engagements and meetings with residents, business leaders and civic leaders.
And Mayor Claire has promised much more is to come throughout her term in her drive to make the East Midlands the best place to live, work and learn.
Mayor Claire said: “Becoming the first elected Mayor of the East Midlands in May 2024 was the privilege of a lifetime – I really do have the best job in the world.
“Over the past two years we have begun to deliver on the promise of a fairer, better funded and more ambitious region. We have secured billions for transport, housing, skills and growth, and put local people at the heart of decisions through conversations like my Big Transport Conversation. We are backing businesses, creating jobs, investing in clean energy through STEP Fusion, and helping thousands into better work.
“I am proud of what we have achieved, and I know much more is still to come as we continue to build a stronger East Midlands together.”
Since election, Mayor Claire has overseen a huge programme of delivery and investment across the region. Key achievements so far, as she celebrates her second anniversary, include securing £2 billion for transport improvements and allocating £121 million per year for local highways authorities to repair and maintain roads, including tackling potholes. More than 36,500 residents took part in the Big Transport Conversation, directly shaping future transport priorities for the region.
Economic growth has been strengthened through a £1.14bn Investment Fund and £107m in local growth funding, alongside targeted support for more than 17,000 businesses through the EMCCA Growth Hub. Major regeneration schemes are progressing at pace, including the Broad Marsh site in Nottingham and the Infinity Garden Village in Derbyshire – while the Mayor has also allocated £3m towards community development projects in some of the more deprived areas of the region.
Skills, employment and opportunity have been placed at the heart of the Mayor’s agenda, with more than 27,000 adult learners supported, more than 2,800 young people gaining quality work experience, and 1,600 unemployed young people supported into education, employment or training.
Housing delivery has accelerated, with almost 2,000 new homes either completed or under construction on brownfield land, thanks to securing a brownfield housing funding package of more than £93m, with the first residents already moving into one supported scheme near Newark.
Key achievements at a glance:
Mayor Claire said: “What we are seeing now is the real impact of sustained investment and partnership working across the East Midlands. From improving transport and housing to backing businesses and creating opportunities for young people, we are beginning to shift the dial on what is possible for our region.
“I said I wanted the East Midlands to be the best place to live, work and learn – and that remains the driving ambition every single day.”
Published on: 12 May 2026
Categories: Governance, News