What happens and when?

Reorganisation timeline:

November 2025: Our full Reimagining Devon proposal was submitted
Spring 2026: Government statutory consultation begins
June / July 2026: Government considers the consultation results and makes its decision
Summer 2026: Legislation to create the new councils
May 2027: Elections to the new unitary councils
April 2028: New councils take over all services

Step 1

Councils submitted their proposals to government in November 2025.

Each council involved in the Reimagining Devon submission made their final decisions to support the plan at their respective council meetings in November.

Step 2

Government assesses whether the proposals meet the statutory criteria and begin their statutory consultation process by spring 2026.

The consultation is expected to end in May 2026.

Step 3

Government considers the consultation results and makes its decision on the future of local government in Devon.

This is expected to be in June / July 2026.

Step 4

Government creates the new legislation to create the new councils before the parliamentary recess for summer 2026.

Step 5

Elections to the new unitary councils will be held in May 2027, with the new council operating in “shadow” form until the end of March 2028.

This shadow period will enable the new unitary councils to complete the preparation work to go live on 1 April 2028.

Step 6

New councils take over all services and the old councils cease to exist.

This is expected to be 1 April 2028.