Ministry consults on local government reorganisation proposals for 14 areas

The areas covered by the consultations, which can be accessed here, are:

• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
• Derbyshire and Derby
• Devon, Plymouth and Torbay
• Gloucestershire
• Hertfordshire
• Kent and Medway 
• Lancashire, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen
• Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland
• Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and Northeast Lincolnshire
• Nottinghamshire and Nottingham
• Oxfordshire
• Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
• Warwickshire
• Worcestershire

The Ministry said: “This is the latest step in our plans to reorganise local government which will end the current wasteful two-tier system and replace it with stronger unitary councils that can deliver for local people.”

In a letter to council leaders, the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, Alison McGovern said that while a preliminary assessment of all submissions had been conducted, the Government had not yet made any formal assessment against the invitation criteria.

“This will be completed once the consultation process has concluded, so that all evidence can be considered. This approach is consistent with our approach across the programme so far,” she said.

Announcing the consultations, McGovern claimed that unitary councils “provide clarity for residents and are more effective”.

She said: “That’s why we’re carrying out the biggest change to local government in a generation, and I would encourage local people and businesses to share their views in shaping the future of their area.”

The consultation across these 14 areas will run until 25 March 2026.

In October 2025 the Government announced that the existing 12 councils in Surrey would be replaced by two new unitaries, East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council.