InformationLocal Government Reorganisation in Devon

As Devon moves through the Local Government Reorganisation process, residents are being kept informed and were gave the opportunity to share their views on the future of local government in the area.

The public were invited to take part in the Government consultation, which closed at midnight on 26 March 2026.

All five proposals were available to view at www.devonlgr.co.uk

The consultation asked questions on each proposal to help inform the Government’s assessment of the options for local government reorganisation in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Consultation on Proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Overview

This statutory consultation seeks views on the proposals that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has received following the Secretary of State’s invitation to councils in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay to submit proposals for unitary local government for their area. You can find full details of the consultation, including a privacy statement, at: Local government reorganisation in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay - GOV.UK

The 5 proposals in this consultation were made by the following councils on 28 November 2025:

1. Devon County Council proposed 3 unitary councils. These would comprise the current areas of:

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

2. South Hams District Council, Teignbridge District Council, West Devon Borough Council proposed 3 unitary councils. These would comprise the current areas of:

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 ?

This proposal is shown on the website below as 'District Councils (main)'.

3. East Devon Borough Council, Mid Devon District Council, North Devon Council, Torridge District Council proposed 3 unitary councils. This includes a request to split existing district council areas between the proposed new councils. These would comprise the current areas of:

Exeter and Northern Devon Unitary: East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon, and Torridge

Plymouth Expanded: Plymouth plus parts of the parishes of Bickleigh, Brixton, Shaugh Prior and Sparkwell from the neighbouring district of South Hams

Torbay and Southern Devon Unitary: Remaining parts of South Hams, Teignbridge, Torbay ?and West Devon

This proposal is shown on the website below as 'District Councils (modified)'.

4. Exeter City Council and Plymouth City Council proposed 4 unitary councils. This includes a request to split existing district council areas between the proposed new councils. These would comprise the current areas of:

Devon Coast and Countryside: The rest of Devon

Exeter: 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: Plymouth plus 13 parishes from South Hams
Torbay: Torbay plus 22 parishes from within Teignbridge District Council and South Hams District Council.?

5. Torbay Council proposed 4 unitary councils. This includes a request to split existing district council areas between the proposed new councils. These would comprise the current areas of:

Exeter Council: 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 Council: Plymouth plus 13 parishes from South Hams

Rural Devon Coast and Countryside Council: The rest of Devon
Torbay Council to remain unchanged