In a major boost to the Peak District, the Mayors of the East Midlands, Greater Manchester, and South Yorkshire are joining forces to launch a new agreement: The Peak Partnership.
Mayor of the East Midlands Claire Ward, Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, and Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire, have come together in Buxton to kickstart a partnership that will work in service of the Peak District, an area of rich heritage, industry, and natural beauty which all three regions take value from.
The three Mayors, and their authorities, will work with each other, local councils, and other stakeholders to develop a joined-up, holistic approach to the future of the National Park. Their initial discussion will focus on several key areas that bind the regions together, including transport, stronger rural communities, housing and skills, and a thriving visitor economy.
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 £3bn annual economic impact.
The Peak Partnership was announced earlier in 2025 and recognises that while the Peak District is located predominately in Derbyshire, parts of it stretch into Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire, with people living, working and travelling between the regions daily – by rail, by bus and along the main road linking the three regions, the Peak Pass.
The initial focus of the Partnership will be transforming the Snake Pass and rural network, boosting the visitor economy, and improving rural access and active travel.
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.”
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.”
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.
“Alongside the work we’re doing through our Great North Partnership, White Rose Agreement and South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership, the Peak Partnership will again show what real collaboration looks like – putting people, places, and potential at the heart of everything we do.”
