Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is the process of replacing England's two-tier council system — where county and district councils share responsibilities — with single-tier unitary authorities. The current wave, announced by the UK Government in 2024, will affect 21 county council areas and is expected to create around 55 new unitary councils by 2028. LGR changes how council tax is set, who delivers local services, and how residents are democratically represented.
Why this matters now
- Large scale structural reform across England.
- New unitary authorities forming from 2026 onwards.
- Governance decisions in the first 100 days shape long term outcomes.
Reorganisation is not administrative tidying. It redefines how local power operates.
What LGR does and does not do
What LGR does
- Merges district and county councils
- Creates a single unitary authority
- Centralises service responsibility
- Simplifies accountability
LGR simplifies structure. It does not automatically reduce cost.
What it does not do
- It is not devolution
- It does not automatically reduce council tax
- It does not remove all local representation
Policy design and political leadership determine outcomes.
At a glance
- Average duration
- 18–30 months
- Legal mechanism
- Structural Change Order
- Key decision maker
- Secretary of State
- Outcome
- Unitary authority replaces district and county councils
Most reorganisations take around two years from proposal to vesting day.
How it happens
Six stages from proposal to launch.
1. The Idea
1-3 Months- What happens
- Local leaders research if joining forces will save money and improve services. They draft a "Business Case" (the 'Why' document).
- Who decides
- Local councils and combined authorities, often with government encouragement.
- What it means locally
- Your area may be part of early discussions; no change to services yet.
- Key output
- The Proposal Submission
In simple terms: Designing the blueprint and checking if it's a good idea with local partners.
Whose job is it?
Most people cannot correctly identify which council delivers which service.
District Councils
Local services like bins, housing, and local planning.
County Councils
Strategic services like schools, social care, and roads.
What it means for your area in 2026
Shadow elections in May 2026. New unitaries live in 2027 to 2028.
The transition period determines whether services remain stable. The first 100 days set the tone.
Reorganisation reshapes how local decisions are made for a generation.
The structure may change once. The consequences endure.