We know residents and businesses will have questions about Local Government Reorganisation and devolution in Lancashire. This page sets out the facts and is regularly updated as LGR progresses.
The UK government has announced regulation to restructure local governance in the remaining 21 areas of England which will replace the existing two-tier system of district and county councils with larger unitary councils, this is called Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). Lancashire is one of the areas which operates two-tier governance with a county council and districts that deliver different services to the same population.
Unitary council arrangements, where all local authority services are delivered by a single larger authority, have been implemented in most areas of the country. The Government proposals are set out in the English Devolution Bill, which also includes arrangements for new combined authorities led by a directly elected mayor.
Key Dates in the Process:
- Government invitation issued: 5 February 2025
- Interim business case proposals: 21 March 2025
- Final business case proposals: 28 November 2025
- Shadow Authority elections: May 2027
- New unitary councils take control / Vesting Day: 1 April 2028
This page will be updated as information becomes available from central government, partner agencies and the local authorities in Lancashire.
