Dozens of local authorities across Central England are being swept away and replaced by new ‘super councils’ in the biggest shakeup of local government for nearly 50 years.
Delivering savings and reflecting geography
Overall, 134 councils will be streamlined into 34 unitary authorities responsible for all services – education, housing, transport, adult social care – in their areas. They include:
Gloucestershire, where seven councils are being reorganised into a single unitary authority. This will unite the Gloucester-Cheltenham growth corridor and Golden Valley cyber cluster under one council, with reorganisation expected to deliver savings by reducing duplication across services and leadership.
In Derby and Derbyshire, 10 councils are to be reorganised into two unitary authorities. This will allow Derby to expand in all directions while reflecting the county’s distinct north/south geographies and creating two strong partners in the East Midlands Combined County Authority.
Warwickshire will see six councils reorganised into two unitary authorities. This will allow each new council to focus on the specific needs of its communities, tackling health inequalities in the north and improving access to services for older and rural residents in the south.
Worcestershire’s reorganisation will result in seven councils being reorganised into two unitaries. This will reflect the county’s different economies and identities in the north and south, balancing scale with staying connected to communities.
In Oxfordshire, six councils are to be reorganised into three unitaries. This will address Oxford’s housing constraints, better reflect the city’s economic geography, and ensure Oxford has its own seat at the table when regional powers and funding are agreed with government.
Moving towards devolution
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will see 10 councils reorganised into two unitaries. This will expand Leicester’s boundary to reflect how the city functions, unlocking around 30,000 homes and 67 hectares of employment land, and creating a stronger platform for future devolution.
In Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, nine councils are to be reorganised into two unitaries. This will bring most of Nottingham’s urban area under one council, supporting the Mayoral authority’s growth ambitions and creating a more balanced urban-rural mix.
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent will also see 10 councils being reorganised into two unitaries. This will support Stoke’s growth opportunities across a natural north/south split, minimising service disruption and achieving strong financial stability
Finally, in Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, 10 councils are to be reorganised into four unitary authorities. This will give Lincoln the space to grow while striking the best balance between urban and rural service delivery and securing Lincoln a distinct voice in devolution.
Clearer accountability and reduced waste
According to ministers, these sweeping reforms will lead to clearer accountability and an end to wasteful duplication thanks to the latest round of local wasteful duplication. Local Government Reorganisation, they argue, will create stronger foundations for economic growth by enabling councils to provide better and more joined-up support for residents. It will lead to the creation of stronger unitary councils, paving the way for deeper devolution and stronger local leadership across England, and put a stop to unnecessary duplication.
This means one planning team, one finance department, one set of senior leaders instead of many, leading to more streamlined and accessible services for residents and freeing up money that can be reinvested directly into local services like road maintenance and social care.
Explaining the reorganisation, Mr Reed said that the government were shaking up local government so that people get the services they deserve – cleaner streets, better care, and money spent on what matters most to local people.
These reforms would create stronger, more efficient councils that lay the foundations for real devolution and the economic growth that will bring new jobs and opportunities to communities right across England.
Unlocking growth and improving efficiency
Local Government Reorganisation will unlock growth across different cities, from Preston to Leicester, giving local leaders the tools they need to tackle housing pressures, attract investment and build a better future for local people.
The reforms are tailored to the specific needs of each city. For example, in Derby it means supporting the area’s industrial strengths by aligning housing and infrastructure.
By streamlining how local government works, these cities will be better placed to make decisions that truly reflect the needs of the people they serve.
Overall, Local Government Reorganisation is an ongoing process to deliver simplified and more efficient local authorities, reduce wasted spending on bureaucracy, and end the situation whereby local people are dealing with fragmented services across county and district councils.
Elections for the new councils will be held next year, and they will take over in 2028.
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