UK government approves sweeping local council reorganisation

On 16 July 2026 the UK government announced a nationwide programme to replace two‑tier local authorities with unitary councils across England. The reforms will affect 14 areas, cutting 134 existing councils to 38 new unitary authorities that will deliver all services – education, social care, highways, waste collection, housing and more – under a single administration.

Key changes include: - Kent and Medway will be reorganised into four new unitary councils by April 2028. - Lancashire’s 15 councils will be merged into four new unitary authorities covering Preston‑Lancaster‑Ribble Valley, Chorley‑South Ribble‑West Lancashire, Blackpool‑Fylde‑Wyre and Blackburn‑with‑Darwen‑Burnley‑Hyndburn‑Rossendale‑Pendle. - Gloucestershire will become a single unitary authority, replacing the county council and six district councils. - Derbyshire’s county council and eight district councils will be split into two new authorities, one in the north and one in the south of the county. - Warwickshire will be divided into two unitary councils, north and south, replacing the existing two‑tier system. - Additional areas such as Hertfordshire, Nottinghamshire, Nottingham, Derby, and others will see similar mergers.

Elections for the new “shadow” councils are scheduled for May 2027, with the new authorities expected to assume full powers on 1 April 2028. The reforms aim to simplify governance, reduce duplication, save public money and provide a clearer basis for devolution and local economic growth. Thousands of council staff and hundreds of councillors will be affected as the number of elected representatives falls from roughly 700 to between 200 and 300.

The programme has been presented as the most ambitious overhaul of English local government in a generation, with the government promising that day‑to‑day services will continue unchanged for residents during the transition.