Reimagining Devon
What happens and when?
Reorganisation timeline:
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November 2025: Our full Reimagining Devon proposal is submitted
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Spring 2026: Government statutory consultation begins
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June / July 2026: Government considers the consultation results and makes its decision
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Summer 2026: Legislation to create the new councils
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May 2027: Elections to the new unitary councils
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April 2028: New councils take over all services
Step 1
Councils to submit their proposals to Government in November 2025. Each of the councils putting proposals together will submit their “Case for Change” to government by 28 November 2025.
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Each council involved in the Reimagining Devon submission will be making their final decisions on the submission, which is expected to happen at Cabinet / Executive / Council meetings in November.
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You can read the Reimagining Devon plan here.
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The other proposals for Devon are:
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As well as being involved in Reimagining Devon, Torbay Council have also put forward a further proposal of their own
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.
