A business case for reshaped and reimagined local services has been jointly submitted to the Government by seven of Devon’s 11 councils.

East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge and West Devon district councils have jointly submitted Reimagining Devon: Believe in Better to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government following approval from each council’s respective members earlier this week.

The proposal is the districts’ answer to local government reorganisation - the UK Government’s plan to simplify the structure of local services in England. 

The submitted proposal would give the county three unitary authorities:

• Torbay and Southern Devon – a unitary authority with South Hams, Teignbridge, Torbay and West Devon
• Exeter and Northern Devon – a unitary authority with East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon and Torridge
• Plymouth City Council remaining a standalone unitary authority. 

The proposal, along with the other submissions for Devon, will be the subject of a government-led public consultation which is expected to take place in early 2026.

In a joint statement, the councils’ leaders said: “Our submission of Reimagining Devon marks a key milestone in the future of local government in the county. We believe our proposal, which has been backed by our elected members, will create balanced authorities which can thrive and ensure no community is left behind.

“A lot of work has taken place to get to this stage, and we have worked collaboratively across political and geographic boundaries to create a structure that is financially robust, reflects Devon’s unique geography and identity, and will deliver high-quality, accessible public services in the heart of our communities.

“We would like to thank the residents, businesses, community groups and stakeholders who helped shape this proposal. A further consultation will take place in the new year, and we hope everyone will use the opportunity to have their say and ensure we have a local government structure which is right for our residents, delivering services we can all be proud of for generations to come.”

The full proposal, Reimagining Devon: Believe in Better, is available to view at https://www.reimaginingdevon.org.

A decision on which proposal will be taken forward is expected from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in summer 2026. Elections for the new authority would take place in May 2027 before it commences in 2028.