Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, met Cornish community representatives last week to discuss devolution and the county's post-Brexit plans.

Mr Javid met local councillors, business leaders, health, housing and education providers and voluntary and community organisations, toured the Aerohub Enterprise Zone at Newquay Airport and signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding with Cornwall Council and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership.

John Pollard, leader of Cornwall Council, said: “We were very pleased to welcome the secretary of state to Cornwall. We know that he is keen to understand the distinct aspects of life and work here and we were delighted to explain the schemes and opportunities that are available through our work with our partners and the implementation of our Devolution Deal.

“As trailblazers for rural devolution we are keen to move onto the next stages of devolved powers and especially our double devolution so that more freedoms and responsibilities can be shared with parish and town councils.”

Mark Duddridge, chairman of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The visit was about showing the secretary of state the scope of our ambition and our commitment to creating jobs and growth as we strive to close the earnings and productivity gap with other parts of the UK.

“His continued commitment to Aerohub is most welcome and we took the opportunity to brief him on our work with the British Business Bank to create a new multi-million investment fund that would directly support local business growth.”

Mr Javid said: “Devolving power to where it belongs – in the hands of local people who know their area best – is a key part of our plan to create an economy that works for everyone.

“From the Enterprise Zone at Newquay to the devolution deal for the duchy, I’ve been impressed by the energy across Cornwall and the drive to make sure these locally-led efforts succeed."

Aerohub is England's only aerospace and space focused Enterprise Zone (EZ). Cornwall Airport Newquay was awarded Enterprise Zone status in 2011 and is now the largest planning free zone in the UK covering 650 acres, with Goonhilly Earth Station becoming part of the EZ last year. Both locations now offer significant development land and access to development support, offering space and aerospace companies a unique operational environment for operations.

Cornwall Airport Newquay, the UK’s fastest growing airport, is working with industry and other south west LEPs to create a National Centre for Future Flight Technologies by offering a safe licensed environment to test, operate and validate experimental and innovative aircraft and space systems.

Enterprise Zone manager Miles Carden said: “We want to become a UK spaceport to operate spaceplane systems.”

Goonhilly is seen as a key component in delivering the UK’s contribution to international space missions and low cost access to space, and is part of the country's Critical National Infrastructure.

Mr Carden added: “The redevelopment of the Goonhilly site as part of the Cornwall EZ programme will transform it into a Space Science Centre [and] help create a high value sector cluster and the environment to develop space-focused research and business opportunities.”