Why Reimagining Devon?

If you live in Devon, you’ll know it’s a diverse and contrasting county, with urban, rural and coastal communities. Devon spans 2,590 square miles, making it the third largest county in England, with more than a million residents.

The Reimagining Devon proposal has been created to serve every one of those residents in the best way.

About Reimagining Devon

If the government adopts Reimagining Devon, it would:

Be a plan that works for all of Devon
- Devon’s districts have worked in unison to bring together this plan with one vision – a plan that acknowledges the strengths, challenges and aspirations found across the entire county. The plan ensures parity between the three areas, with a similar share of services and resources ensuring the best outcome for every person living in Devon.
It will provide better service delivery tailored for each area
- By having three unitary authorities covering different geographies and communities, there is a greater chance for each to tailor strategic priorities, service delivery models and investment into each area.
Create a single point of contact to access services
- With the confusion gone over who does what, you will know which council to contact for all your needs, and lead to greater accessibility for everyone.
Ensure your council has a sound financial footing and provides value for money
- The 4-5-1 plan will create savings and efficiencies, reduce duplication of work and deliver better services for the people living all across Devon. It is fully costed, with a robust financial plan that should ensure services provide Devon taxpayers with good value for money.
Forge closer relationships between councillors and the public
- Three councils for Devon will mean more identifiable and responsible local councillors, and strong local leadership. It will ensure local voices are heard and actively shape the decisions being made in your area.
Encourage economic growth
- Reimagining Devon aligns the three unitary authorities around Devon’s major economic hubs and emerging economies, meaning each area can thrive and has potential to grow with a balanced economy and tax base.
Improve the joining up of public sector services
- The 4-5-1 plan would make it easier for councils, the NHS, police and other key public services to work together around shared local priorities. Councils could create closer partnerships and co-ordinate more effectively, leading to better services for everyone.
Be built on an understanding of people and place
- Reimagining Devon would see decisions made close to the people they affect, and services shaped around communities, ensuring all of Devon’s communities get the tailored support that they need.

What pitfalls does Reimagining Devon avoid?

It avoids a “one-size-fits-all” approach to service delivery
- Devon’s urban, rural and coastal communities all face different challenges and issues relating to service delivery.
Closer decision-making and improved democratic representation
- The 4-5-1 model’s new authorities are smaller (by population and area) than a single county-wide body, which would make elected representatives more accessible and decisions more attuned to local needs.
It promotes viable scale while preserving manageable size
- The 4-5-1 model aims to strike a balance: unitary authorities large enough to benefit from scale economies, but not so large that they become unmanageable or too remote.
It reduces risk of over-centralisation
- A single large authority risks meaningful parts of the county feeling under-represented or overlooked (especially more remote or sparsely populated areas) if the centre of decision-making is located in or dominated by the more populous or urban parts.

Reimagining Devon

Why Reimagining Devon?

About Reimagining Devon

If the government adopts Reimagining Devon, it would: ​

Be a plan that works for all of Devon

It will provide better service delivery tailored for each area

By having three unitary authorities covering different geographies and communities, there is a greater chance for each to tailor strategic priorities, service delivery models and investment into each area.

Create a single point of contact to access services

With the confusion gone over who does what, you will know which council to contact for all your needs, and lead to greater accessibility for everyone.

Ensure your council has a sound financial footing and provides value for money

The 4-5-1 plan will create savings and efficiencies, reduce duplication of work and deliver better services for the people living all across Devon. It is fully costed, with a robust financial plan that should ensure services provide Devon taxpayers with good value for money.

Forge closer relationships between councillors and the public

Three councils for Devon will mean more identifiable and responsible local councillors, and strong local leadership. It will ensure local voices are heard and actively shape the decisions being made in your area.

Encourage economic growth

Reimagining Devon aligns the three unitary authorities around Devon’s major economic hubs and emerging economies, meaning each area can thrive and has potential to grow with a balanced economy and tax base.

Improve the joining up of public sector services

The 4-5-1 plan would make it easier for councils, the NHS, police and other key public services to work together around shared local priorities. Councils could create closer partnerships and co-ordinate more effectively, leading to better services for everyone.

Be built on an understanding of people and place

​Reimagining Devon would see decisions made close to the people they affect, and services shaped around communities, ensuring all of Devon’s communities get the tailored support that they need.

What pitfalls does Reimagining Devon avoid?

Reimagining Devon

If the government adopts Reimagining Devon, it would:

Reimagining Devon would see decisions made close to the people they affect, and services shaped around communities, ensuring all of Devon’s communities get the tailored support that they need.