14 September 2026: Local Government Reorganisation in Lancashire update following visit from ministers

Here's an update on the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) programme in Lancashire, following a visit from Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) officials this week.

On Monday 28 September, officials from the MHCLG, visited Lancashire to meet with the Chief Executives of all 15 local councils to discuss the Government's recent announcement to pause and review LGR in a number of areas, including here in Lancashire.

A key update from the meeting is that the government's scope and timeline for the review are still unconfirmed. A further update will be announced in Parliament during the week commencing 12 October, when we expect government to confirm its approach and timeline for the review. It is unclear whether ministers will be in a position to make any more detailed announcements for certain areas at that time.

The Programme Delivery Office (PDO) team also updated MHCLG officials on Lancashire LGR programme progress. Following the announcement to pause while the government review takes place, the PDO is focusing activity on work that would need to be done regardless of any change to LGR timelines and / or new unitary geographies.

We appreciate this is an unsettling time for staff while we await the next government announcement on its review of LGR in Lancashire.

Thank you for your patience and the work you are doing to provide quality services to local residents amid this uncertainty about the future of Lancashire's councils.

We will provide a further update to staff in mid October as soon as we get the latest position from government.