Devon residents invited to shape future of local government in county-wide consultation

Residents, businesses and community organisations across Devon are being urged to take part in a major public consultation on the future of local government in the county.

The consultation, launched on Thursday 5 February by the Ministry of Housing, Local Government and Communities (MHCLG), is seeking views on proposals to replace Devon’s current two-tier system of county and district councils with new unitary authorities. The review forms part of a wider national programme aimed at simplifying local government structures and improving efficiency and accountability.

Under Devon County Council’s proposal, the county council and Devon’s eight district councils would be brought together to form a single Devon Unitary Council, working alongside the existing unitary authorities in Plymouth and Torbay.

The business case, developed following extensive public engagement, sets out how a Devon Unitary Council would aim to deliver simpler, stronger and more sustainable local government. Key features include clearer accountability, a single point of contact for services, and a governance model designed to strengthen both strategic leadership and local decision-making.

Central to the proposal is the creation of 16 Neighbourhood Area Committees, intended to bring decisions closer to communities and ensure that local priorities shape service delivery. This approach responds to concerns raised by residents during engagement about the complexity and duplication of the current system.

Independent financial analysis found that the Devon Unitary option would deliver the highest financial benefits of the models considered. These include annual recurring savings of £28.4 million, the lowest implementation costs, and a projected two-year payback period. With a population of around 842,000, the proposed unitary authority exceeds the minimum population size typically required for an efficient unitary council and would be based on existing county boundaries.

Other options examined during the review were found to be more complex, more costly and to carry greater risks to vital services such as adult social care, children’s services and public health. Last year, an independent Children’s Commissioner highlighted improvements in Devon County Council’s Children’s Services and warned that breaking up the service could put that progress at risk.

The proposal follows what the council describes as one of the most extensive engagement programmes ever undertaken in Devon. Feedback indicated strong support for more consistent services, easier access for residents, and a governance model that protects Devon’s identity while giving communities a stronger voice. Businesses and public sector partners, including the NHS, police, fire and education bodies, also highlighted the advantages of a single strategic authority working across shared geographies.

Devon County Council leader Councillor Julian Brazil said the launch of the Government’s consultation marked a significant moment for the county.

“This is an opportunity for everyone in Devon to help shape how local services are delivered for decades to come,” he said.

“The challenges we face in Devon are immense. We all need a unitary council of scale to be able to best serve all residents, but crucially for the next generation of Devonians. They desperately need an authority which can put their needs first and which has the scale to deliver the education, jobs, housing and transport infrastructure improvements they need to lead productive and fulfilled lives.”

If approved, the changes would represent the most significant reform of local government in Devon for around 50 years, with the aim of creating a more resilient and financially sustainable system while keeping local voices at the heart of decision-making.

Summaries of all proposals for local government reorganisation can be viewed online at www.devonlgr.co.uk. Paper copies of Devon County Council’s business case and consultation questionnaires will also be available in libraries across the county. The deadline for feedback is midnight on 25 March 2026.