English mayors will get new borrowing powers in Wednesday's Budget as Burnham vows an end to going 'cap in hand'

The £1.5bn borrowing facility will not start until 2028, and Chancellor John Healey is to design it with the mayors themselves. First comes £285m of seed cash next year, replacing Whitehall's 'fragmented bidding pots'. The Treasury doubts some councils can manage bigger budgets, so another £150m will go on helping them build expertise. Areas without strategic authority status will still get a share of the money.

The Budget is also expected to add more than £1bn for social and affordable housing.

Councils will get cheaper government loans to fund housebuilding through preferential interest rates.

Healey says English regions' potential has gone 'untapped and wasted' while Westminster hoarded the money.