Local Government Reorganisation: 14 More Areas Confirmed

What the government confirmed on 16 July 2026

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed on 16 July 2026 that a further 14 areas of England will have their local councils reorganised, as part of the government's ongoing programme to replace two-tier local government with single-tier unitary authorities. The decision covers 134 existing county and district councils, which will be streamlined into 38 new unitary councils.

Local Government Reorganisation is designed to end the current system in which county councils and district councils split responsibility for local services, such as one council handling planning and roads while another handles housing and council tax. The government says combining these into a single council removes duplicated senior leadership and back-office functions, freeing up money that can be redirected to services such as road maintenance and social care.

Which areas are affected

The 14 areas confirmed on 16 July 2026 are: Gloucestershire (7 councils into 1 unitary), Derby and Derbyshire (10 councils into 2 unitaries), Warwickshire (6 into 2), Worcestershire (7 into 2), Oxfordshire (6 into 3), Hertfordshire (11 into 4), Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (10 into 2), Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (9 into 2), East Sussex and Brighton and Hove (7 into 2), Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent (10 into 2), Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool (15 into 4), Kent and Medway (14 into 4), Devon, Plymouth and Torbay (11 into 4), and Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire (10 into 4).

This builds on reorganisation already under way or agreed elsewhere in England, including Surrey, where two new unitary councils are replacing 11 district and borough councils and one county council. Around a third of England's population, roughly 20 million people, currently live in an area with two-tier local government.

What changes for residents, and when

For most residents, the practical change will not be immediate. The government's timetable points to elections for the new unitary councils in May 2027, with the new councils formally going live and taking over service delivery from April 2028. Until then, existing councils continue to run services as normal, including setting and collecting council tax.

Once the new unitary councils are operating, residents in affected areas will deal with a single council for services that are currently split between county and district councils, such as planning, housing, waste collection, social care and council tax. Bills and specific service arrangements, including council tax bands and precepts, are set locally and will be confirmed by each new council closer to its start date.

Why the government is doing this

The government's stated aim is to simplify local government, speed up decision-making, and reduce costs from duplicated services and senior leadership. Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Steve Reed said the reforms are intended to ensure money is spent on what matters most to local people, pointing to previous reorganisations that have delivered measurable savings, including more than £75 million in Buckinghamshire since 2020 and more than £40 million in North Yorkshire by March 2026.

The reforms are also intended to prepare the ground for deeper devolution, giving new unitary councils a stronger single voice when regional powers and funding are agreed with government. In some areas, such as Leicester and Oxford, boundary changes are designed to better reflect how cities have grown, addressing outdated boundaries and supporting local housing and growth plans.

What's still undecided

Not every area has a confirmed decision yet. The government said decisions on West Sussex, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will be made in due course, to allow ministers more time to consider the options for those areas. Residents there should expect a further announcement rather than immediate change.

For everyone else in the 14 confirmed areas, the current council structure remains in place until the new unitary authorities take over from April 2028, and any specific questions about a bill, service or transition arrangement are best directed to the current billing council in the meantime.

Frequently asked questions

Has my council tax bill changed because of this announcement?

No. This announcement confirms which councils will merge and when, not new council tax bands or bills. Existing councils continue to set and collect council tax until the new unitary councils go live.

When do the new unitary councils actually start running services?

The government's timetable points to elections in May 2027, with the new councils taking over service delivery from April 2028.

Which areas were confirmed on 16 July 2026?

Gloucestershire, Derby and Derbyshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Leicester/Leicestershire/Rutland, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, East Sussex and Brighton and Hove, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, Lancashire/Blackburn with Darwen/Blackpool, Kent and Medway, Devon/Plymouth/Torbay, and Lincolnshire/North Lincolnshire/North East Lincolnshire.

What happens to areas that don't yet have a decision, like West Sussex?

The government has delayed decisions on West Sussex, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to allow more time to consider the options, with a further announcement expected in due course.

Why is the government merging councils into unitary authorities?

It says the change ends duplicated services and senior leadership roles across county and district councils, freeing up funding for local priorities and creating a clearer, single point of accountability for residents.