| West of England | |
| Type: | Combined authority region |
| Subdivision Type: | Sovereign state |
| Subdivision Name: | United Kingdom |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | England |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | South West England |
| Subdivision Type3: | Counties |
| Subdivision Name3: | Bristol Gloucestershire Somerset |
| Parts: | Unitary authorities |
| P1: | Bristol |
| P2: | South Gloucestershire |
| P3: | Bath and North East Somerset |
| Seat Type: | Administrative HQ |
| Seat: | Bristol (3 Rivergate, Temple Quay) |
| Government Type: | Combined authority Local enterprise partnership |
| Leader Title: | Body |
| Leader Name: | West of England Combined Authority |
| Leader Title1: | Mayor |
| Leader Name1: | Dan Norris (Labour) |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | Greenwich Mean Time |
| Utc Offset: | +0 |
| Timezone Dst: | British Summer Time |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +1 |
The West of England is an area of South West England around the River Avon. The area has a local government combined authority that consists of the unitary authorities of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset. The combined authority is led by the Mayor of the West of England Dan Norris.[1] [2] The city of Bristol is the region's largest population centre. Before the region, from 1974 until 1996, the area was under the County of Avon with North Somerset.
The term has been used in the Bristol and Bath area since at least the 18th century. The Royal Bath and West of England Society was named the Bath and West of England Society in 1790.[3] The Royal West of England Academy received its present title in 1913.[4] More recently the term has been used by organisations such as the West of England Partnership,[5] Connexions West of England,[6] and the West of England Sport Trust,[7] as a synonym for the former Avon area, which existed as a local government unit between 1974 and 1996. Some aspects of transport planning and policy are coordinated using the Travelwest logo.[8]
The West of England Combined Authority is a combined authority for the area, originally intended to comprise the local authorities of the former county of Avon, including Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset,[9] [10] [11] but North Somerset declined to participate.[12] The combined authority is led by a Mayor, following the first election in May 2017. The government's stated vision is to create a "Western Powerhouse" analogous to the government's Northern Powerhouse concept. It is said that the proposal could bring nearly £1 billion of investment to the region.[9] [10]
The term is also used by the University of the West of England, the Royal West of England Academy,[13] and by voluntary groups and clubs such as the West of England Bridge Club,[14] all of which are based in or near Bristol.