The Northern Way, created by John Prescott in 2004 to even up the north-south imbalance of English economic development, has finally closed as the regional development agencies that latterly funded it run down their expenditure towards abolition.
The programme supported research into the region's economic challenges, created a growth strategy for the north and gave it a unified voice on transport issues.
After its initial launch as a central government programme, it became a co-ordinating body for the three northernmost regional development agencies.
Speaking at the body's final steering group, chairman Hugh Morgan Williams noted that the issues that have dogged the north are still with it and, despite progress there is still a long road to travel.
He said its legacy would now be handed to local authorities and local enterprise partnerships who would do all they could to secure a successful north.
"We always knew that there was no short term solution to the issues facing the north of England," he said.
"We can only hope that our partners and others we have worked with will continue to build upon our success. There will always be a requirement for the north to work collectively. We must look forward to the time when this type of work becomes a more immediate priority to secure economic regeneration for the north as a whole."
One North East chief executive Alan Clarke said that, after its initial £100m investment, the Northern Way led valuable research and policy development to help business, government and academia better understand economic challenges, the reasons for them and how to move forward.
"The combination of a compelling growth strategy for the north, together with an outstanding quality of life, has set the Northern Way apart," he said.
A final evaluation of the programme by consultant SQW is expected soon.
