Government consultation: LGR proposals for Norfolk
You can share your views until Sunday 11 January 2026.
Click here to give feedback on the proposals
In 2024, the Government put plans in place to introduce the biggest changes seen within local government in more than 50 years. These changes will directly affect Norwich and the whole of Norfolk in terms of the provision of local council services.
Devolution explained
In England, devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. It means decisions are made closer to the local people, communities and businesses they affect.
Devolution will include the creation of new strategic or combined authorities overseen by a directly elected Mayor across a large area (for our region this will involve a Mayor to cover Norfolk and Suffolk – election for this role will be in May 2026).
The Government launched a public consultation on devolution in February 2025. You can read the city council’s draft response to the Norfolk and Suffolk devolution consultation as outlined in the scrutiny committee report of 20 March 2025.
LGR explained
LGR is a process whereby all county and district and borough councils in an area are reorganised into fewer and larger unitary councils.
For Norfolk, this means the eight local councils (seven district councils and one county council) currently in place across our county will all be dissolved and replaced with a maximum of three brand new and bigger unitary council(s). Each new unitary council will be responsible for providing all local council services within its area.
The city council firmly backs the creation of a Greater Norwich Unitary Authority as part of a wider three-unitary proposal for Norfolk. Working together as ‘Future Norfolk’, six district councils, including the city council, published a proposal for the creation of three unitary authorities, including a Greater Norwich. This was informed by public engagement and was submitted to Government on 26 September 2025.
High level timeline
- March 2025 – LGR interim plan submitted to Government.
- September 2025 – LGR full business case submitted to Government.
- November 2025 – Government consultation on LGR proposals (date TBC).
- Spring 2026 – Government decision on preferred option for LGR across Norfolk (three, two or one unitary council).
- New unitary councils up and running in Norfolk by April 2028.
Key committee meetings
Full council – 18 March 2025:
The case for a Greater Norwich Unitary Authority
Local Government Reorganisation – interim submission
Cabinet - 19 March 2025:
The case for a Greater Norwich Unitary Authority
Local Government Reorganisation - interim submission
News releases
Have your say on the Government's consultation on future models for LGR across Norfolk (19 November 2025)
Share your priorities to shape strong vision for future of council services in Norfolk (20 June 2025)
A new Greater Norwich Council gets official endorsement as one of Norfolk's three unitary councils (20 March 2025)
New report uncovers further evidence for a Greater Norwich Unitary Council (18 March 2025)
Transforming Norfolk: the case for a three-unitary solution for our county (11 March 2025)
Ambition for a new Unitary Norwich backed by city’s political leaders (21 January 2025)
