UK government approves unitary councils for Nottinghamshire and Greater Nottingham

The UK government has confirmed plans to replace existing local authorities in Nottinghamshire with two new unitary councils, named Nottinghamshire Council and Greater Nottingham Council. Each will have 99 councillors and will be funded with a one‑off allocation of £1.8 million to support the transition, including service integration, digital infrastructure and cyber resilience. The reorganisation, proposed by Nottingham City Council, will be formalised through a Structural Changes Order that requires parliamentary approval and is expected to come into force in 2027, with the existing councils remaining in place until they are abolished on 1 April 2028.

Elections for the new councils are scheduled for May 2027, after which elected members will sit on “shadow” councils to prepare budgets and governance arrangements. The government has also outlined additional legislation to address related matters such as local government pensions, housing revenue accounts and ceremonial issues. The East Midlands Chamber welcomed the clarity on the next steps and the transition funding, noting its importance for businesses and communities in the region.