Local government reorganisation (LGR)

We’re in the early stages of LGR in Lancashire, following a formal invitation from the UK Government on 5 February 2025. This is part of a national plan under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which aims to simplify how councils are structured and improve how services are delivered across England.

LGR means moving from the current two-tier system, where county and district councils share responsibilities, to a single-tier model, where one council runs all local services in an area.

The government’s aims are to:

Make councils more efficient and financially stable
Improve service quality and accountability
Give more power to local communities

Staff question and answer sessions

These are a good opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have, even if we don’t have all the answers yet. Hearing what people are thinking helps us plan how we share information in the future.

You can book a space using the links below.

Wednesday 11 February 2026 – 10am to 12pm, Council Chamber, County Hall, Preston Book your space
Wednesday 11 February 2026 – 1:30pm to 3pm, The Exchange, Barden Lane, Burnley Book your space
Thursday 12 February 2026 – 10am to 12pm, White Cross Neighbourhood Centre, Lancaster Book your space

Questions can be shared in advance, and you can submit these to: internal.communications@lancashire.gov.uk.

The team can ask these on your behalf if you wish to remain anonymous. Where possible, we will also record the sessions and share these afterwards.

What’s happening in Lancashire

We’ve responded to the government’s invitation by working together with all councils across Lancashire – including the 12 district councils, and the two existing unitary authorities: Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

In March, we submitted an Interim Plan, outlining early ideas and challenges. Since then, we’ve been working together to build a shared economic and financial evidence base to support detailed business cases.

We have now published Full Council meeting papers with a recommendation to endorse the proposal for two unitary authorities for Lancashire.

Cabinet has now approved the recommendation to submit the proposal for two unitary authorities for Lancashire to Government.

Key dates

The current key dates set by the government are:

November 2025 – We submitted proposals to the government
February 2026 – Government runs a public consultation
Summer 2026 – Government selects its preferred option
May 2027 – Elections for the new (shadow) councils
April 2028 – New councils go live, and current councils close

Once the government makes its decision, all councils will work together to prepare for the change.

What other areas are doing

Local Government Reorganisation is not unique to Lancashire and is happening all over the country. Existing county council areas have been invited submit their own proposals for establishing new unitary authorities in their areas, with most working to the same timetable as we are.

Surrey is progressing rapidly under the Devolution Priority Programme, having already submitted their proposals on which government has now consulted, with elections expected in 2026.

Hampshire are expected to submit their proposals this month.

Other counties such as North Yorkshire, Somerset, Dorset, and Buckinghamshire have also recently transitioned to unitary models.

What LGR means for you

If the government confirm LGR will go ahead, it will bring change but also opportunity. I know many of you are wondering what this means for your roles, so here’s what we know so far:

Job security and transfers: Most staff will move over to the new councils. The public services you deliver are essential and will continue to be delivered to our usual high standards throughout the transition.
New roles and career development: New structures may create new roles, especially in leadership, transformation, and service integration. There’ll be chances to help shape the future of public services in Lancashire.
Culture and engagement: Building new organisations will be a challenge, and we’ll need to work together to create positive cultures where the new councils can thrive. Staff and union engagement will be central to this work - and it’s also a legal requirement.
Support and communication: I’ll keep you updated regularly on what’s happening, how you can get involved, and what the plans might mean for you.

Ask a question

Email us your questions

What is the difference between devolution and local government reorganisation?

Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. Local government reorganisation is about how the powers and funding that sit with local government are organised between councils.

Will there be a consultation?

Consultations are a crucial part of the local government reorganisation (LGR) process. They allow government and local councils to engage with communities, employees, and other stakeholders to gather input and ensure that reorganisation meets local needs and priorities.

A public survey ran last year and closed on 28 September 2025. The feedback was analysed and it helped shape our proposals for how councils in Lancashire could be organised in the future.

The government will hold a further consultation in February 2026. This will give you another chance to share your views and influence the future structure of local government.

What is the plan for shared services post-LGR?

Shared services will be considered where they are most appropriate, such as for specialist teams. Final arrangements depend on agreements between future councils. Examples could include emergency planning and resilience teams.

Is a single unitary model an option for Lancashire?

Following clarification from the Minister for Local Government, a single unitary for Lancashire would not be compatible with current devolution plans. For powers and funding to be devolved from central government, a combined county authority is required, and our understanding is that a CCA requires more than one local authority member. Therefore, more than one unitary would be required to support devolution arrangements.

What impact will local government reorganisation have on jobs?

The aim of new unitary authorities is to improve service delivery and efficiency. This will likely lead to a review of operations and any existing duplication across Lancashire, in order to create a more efficient and effective local government structure. However, they may also create new roles and responsibilities, offering fresh career paths and growth opportunities.

Overall, while changes are inevitable, we are focused on ensuring that future reorganisation benefits both our employees and our community.

Is voluntary redundancy being considered?

There are no current plans for a council-wide scheme. Most staff will most likely transfer under a form of TUPE if LGR proceeds. Decisions will be communicated transparently.

Is LCC learning from other councils on LGR?

There is ongoing engagement with councils like Cumbria and North Yorkshire. Lessons from recent reorganisations are being applied to improve implementation.

Why doesn’t the LGR survey ask for preferences on proposals?

The survey is a collaborative effort across the 15 councils of Lancashire. A government consultation is expected in early 2026, which will allow more detailed feedback.

How many options will be submitted to government for Lancashire?

Different councils used the shared data to develop a range of options. As a result, five different proposals were submitted to government:

Option	Geography
Two Unitary Authorities	Unitary One: Blackpool, Fylde, Wyre, Lancaster, Preston, Ribble Valley
Two Unitary Authorities	Unitary Two: West Lancashire, South Ribble, Chorley, Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Rossendale, Burnley, Pendle
Three Unitary Authorities	Unitary One: Preston, South Ribble, Chorley, West Lancashire
	Unitary Two: Blackpool, Fylde, Wyre, Lancaster
	Unitary Three: Ribble Valley, Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Rossendale, Burnley, Pendle
Four Unitary Authorities – Option A	Unitary One: South Ribble, Chorley, West Lancashire
	Unitary Two: Blackpool, Fylde, Wyre
	Unitary Three: Preston, Ribble Valley, Lancaster
	Unitary Four: Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Rossendale, Burnley, Pendle
Four Unitary Authorities – Option B	Unitary One: Lancaster, part of rural Wyre, part of northern Ribble Valley
	Unitary Two: Blackpool, part of western Wyre, Fylde, Preston
	Unitary Three: South Ribble, West Lancashire, Chorley
	Unitary Four: Part of Southern Ribble Valley, Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Rossendale, Burnley, Pendle
Five Unitary Authorities	Unitary One: South Ribble, West Lancashire, Chorley
	Unitary Two: Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley
	Unitary Three: Pendle, Burnley, Rossendale
	Unitary Four: Preston, Fylde, Blackpool
	Unitary Five: Wyre, Lancaster

Which option is preferred by Lancashire County Council?

After carefully reviewing all the options using data and evidence, the county council developed a proposal to create two new unitary councils – one for the north and one for the south – broadly divided by the River Ribble, as shown on the map below.

We consider the two-unitary model to be the strongest option because it:

Creates fair and balanced councils with the right resources and service levels.
Strengthens financial resilience and offers the best value for money, with projected savings of £391 million over five years, creating the opportunity to invest in communities.
Protects services for vulnerable people and provides the most financial flexibility to support valued local services.
Has the capacity to drive economic and housing growth that benefits local communities.
Enables a smooth and efficient transition, minimising disruption and delivering benefits quickly.
Supports better joint working with public services like health, fire and police and avoids holding back the voluntary, community and private sectors.
Reflects what residents and staff have told us matters most to them.