CHANCELLOR George Osborne faces an uphill task in convincing many Northerners about his plans for a so-called Northern Powerhouse a new survey shows.

While more than half people in the North of England like the idea of more devolution of powers to the region, including West Yorkshire, most are unconvinced that the Northern Powerhouse idea can be delivered.

The survey from Ipsos MORI, the New Local Government Network and PwC shows that people living within the Northern Powerhouse boundaries are much more aware of decentralisation than the rest of England.

They are also the most supportive of the devolution proposals, with 55 per cent backing plans to devolve more decision-making powers in areas such as transport, economic development and housing.

But only 24 per cent are optimistic that the Northern Powerhouse plan can achieve its aims.

The survey says that a third of Northern residents are ambivalent about the Northern Powerhouse meaning that, when combined with those who are pessimistic that its aims can be achieved, most Northern residents remain unconvinced.

Jonathan House, partner and PwC’s local government leader in the North, said:

“It’s not surprising that awareness and support for decentralisation is highest in the North, where the debate has been strongly led, clearly articulated and evidence based.

“But these results show there is still work to do around communicating what decentralisation and the Northern Powerhouse means for Northern citizens, as there is considerable apathy and scepticism around the initiative.

“The debate will intensify as the focus moves from strategy and planning, to making hard choices on economic growth, investment and the implementation of redesigned local services.

“There will be difficult decisions ahead and councils need to engage the public in an honest discussion about the future shape of public services."

The findings are in line with views expressed at a debate during the recent Bradford Business Conference. Delegates welcomed the idea of giving the North more powers but were sceptical about funding and delivery of the political promises .

Former Bradford Chamber of Commerce president Paul Mackie said the Chancellor probably considered the Yorkshire region as " a basket case" after receiving eight Northern Powerhouse bids.

Mr Mackie, chairman of quantity surveyors Rex Procter & Partners, supports Yorkshire-wide devolution rather than a system focused on the Leeds City Region and several other smaller devolved areas.

But he says that, whatever the approach, it is vital that business has a strong voice in shaping Northern devolution.

He said: " Everyone hails the Manchester devolution agreement but it turns out that this was agreed without any business involvement, This must not happen in Yorkshire."