The UK Government is seeking views on the proposals submitted by councils for the reorganisation of local government in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay.
A consultation is now open and runs until 11.59pm on 26 March 2026. Responses to the consultation will inform its decision on which proposal, if any, to implement.
Details of all five proposals and links to the UK Government's consultation can be found on the Devon LGR website or by heading directly to the consultation page on gov.uk.
On 16 December 2024, the Government announced significant reforms for local government.
The English Devolution White Paper (Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth) sets out the government’s plans for a joint programme of devolution and local government reorganisation which aims to:
- devolve more powers and funding to local authorities
- reorganise and simplify local government structures
What is Devolution?
In England, Devolution is the process of transferring powers and funding from national to local government. It aims to give local areas more control over decisions that affect them. This can involve creating combined authorities or mayoral combined authorities to oversee larger areas and manage devolved responsibilities.
It is important because it ensures that decisions are made closer to local people, communities and businesses they affect.
What is Local Government Reorganisation?
- Local Government Reorganisation is the process of restructuring local authorities to create larger, unitary councils.
- It aims to simplify the current two-tier system of county and district/borough councils.
- In many areas, this will involve creating councils with populations of 350,000 to 500,000+.
- The government is facilitating this process, with the goal of improving service delivery and efficiency.
Why is Local Government Reorganisation happening?
The government wants to devolve more powers and funding to local areas. To achieve this, the structure of local government needs to be reorganized. The intention is to create more efficient and effective local authorities.
Local Government Reorganisation is also seen as a way to support economic growth and potentially address housing challenges.
What does Local Government Reorganisation mean in Devon?
Devon currently has 11 different authorities delivering services for residents. They include:
- Devon County Council
- Eight district councils, including North Devon Council
- Two unitary authorities (Plymouth and Torbay)
Under the proposals, these could be reorganised to create new unitary authorities which will deliver all council services within their area.
What has happened so far?
Following the publication of the English Devolution White Paper, the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon, issued a statutory invitation to all councils in two-tier areas and small neighbouring unitary authorities to develop their unitary proposals and outline plans to bring together lower and upper tier local government services in new unitary councils.
As requested by Government, a joint outline proposal (known as an interim plan) was submitted on behalf of all the Devon District Councils, except Exeter, in March 2025. The proposal has also been included as one of several options submitted by both Torbay Council and Devon County Council.
Known as the 4-5-1 plan, it proposes:
- A unitary authority combining the South Hams, Teignbridge and West Devon areas with Torbay
- A unitary authority including East, Mid, North Devon, Torridge and Exeter.
- Retaining Plymouth unitary authority
Multiple other proposals have also been submitted to the Government by Plymouth, Exeter, Devon County Council and Torbay.
North Devon Council submitted the 4-5-1 proposal to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government alongside East Devon, Mid Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge and West Devon district councils in November 2025.
The proposal is available to view on the Reimagining Devon website.
UK Government consultation
The UK Government is conducting a consultation on the proposals submitted by councils in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay between 5 February and 26 March 2026.
Responses to the consultation will inform its decision on which proposal, if any, to implement.
More details can be found on the Devon Local Government Reorganisation website, or by visiting the gov.uk consultation page.
The five proposals in the consultation were made by the following councils on 28 November 2025:
Devon County Council
A proposal of three unitary councils comprising:
- Devon Unitary Council: East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge and West Devon
- Plymouth to remain unchanged
- Torbay to remain unchanged
The full proposal is available to view on the Devon County Council website.
District councils - main proposal
A proposal of three unitary councils comprising:
- Exeter and Northern Devon Unitary: East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon and Torridge
- Plymouth to remain unchanged
- Torbay and Southern Devon Unitary: South Hams, Teignbridge, Torbay and West Devon
The full proposal is available to view on the Reimagining Devon website.
District councils - modified proposal
A proposal of three unitary councils comprising:
- Exeter and Northern Devon Unitary: East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon, and Torridge
- Plymouth Expanded: parts of the parishes of Bickleigh, Brixton, Shaugh Prior and Sparkwell from the neighbouring district of South Hams
- Torbay and Southern Devon Unitary: South Hams, Teignbridge, Torbay and West Devon
The full proposal is available to view on the Reimagining Devon website.
Exeter City Council and Plymouth City Council
A proposal of four unitary councils comprising:
- Devon Coast and Countryside: The rest of Devon
- Exeter: plus 15 parishes from within Teignbridge District Council, 28 parishes from within East Devon District Council and 6 parishes from within Mid-Devon District Council.
- Plymouth: plus 13 parishes from South Hams
- Torbay: plus 22 parishes from within Teignbridge District Council and South Hams District Council.
The full proposal is available to view on the Exeter City Council website.
Torbay Council
A proposal of four unitary councils comprising:
- Exeter Council: plus 15 parishes from within Teignbridge District Council, 28 parishes from within East Devon District Council and 6 parishes from within Mid Devon District Council
- Plymouth Council: plus 13 parishes from South Hams
- Rural Devon Coast and Countryside Council: The rest of Devon
- Torbay Council to remain unchanged
The full proposal is available to view on the Torbay Council website.
Can councils opt out of this process?
We cannot opt out. All councils must follow the roadmap that is mandated in December’s White Paper and ‘no change’ is not an option.
The Government has been clear that it wants all small unitaries and two-tier areas to bring forward proposals for reorganisation. It intends to deliver this process as quickly as possible, including through legislation, where it becomes necessary to ensure progress.
Who will have the final say?
The final decision on proposals for local government reorganisation will be taken by the Government.
Other than working together to bring forward plans and proposals for their area, councils will not get a say in the Government’s final decision.