The Government is undertaking a review to decide its preferred way forward for Local Government Reorganisation in Norfolk.
Currently, services in Norfolk are split between eight councils: the county council and seven borough, city and district councils. LGR would replace these with one or more ‘unitary councils’, which would deliver all council services.
What’s happened so far?
Originally, Norfolk councils were asked to submit LGR proposals by 21 March 2025, with full proposals by 26 September 2025. The options put forward for Government consideration were: One unitary council for the whole of Norfolk, two councils or three councils.
Following a statutory public consultation of all three options, the Government initially decided on 25 March 2026 that three unitary councils (Greater Norwich, East Norfolk and West Norfolk) was its chosen way forward for Norfolk at the time.
Three councils is the Future Norfolk proposal put forward jointly by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, together with five other districts, with the new West Norfolk council comprising the geographic areas currently served by King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and Breckland, plus a small part of South Norfolk.
We believe that three councils is the best option and would ensure decisions about local services are taken closer to communities and tailored to local needs. This evidence-based, joint submission was shaped through extensive community engagement, careful independent analysis of all options, and robust financial planning.
What’s happening now?
On 7 September 2026, the Government announced it was withdrawing the LGR decisions it had made in four areas, including Norfolk and Suffolk, in order to conduct a review of those decisions, alongside 14 other LGR areas.
The announcement states the review is following updated legal advice, to ensure the process is robust and aligns with new Government priorities, following a change in national political leadership.
As a new administration, this Government says the review is a pause to reflect before implementing final decisions, and its commitment to reform and reorganisation hasn't changed.
Norfolk’s councils continue to prioritise delivering excellent services for local communities, while we await further details from Government, including timescales for the review.
What happens after the review?
Once the Government has completed its review and made a final decision on the way forward, the Borough Council remains committed to working closely with other councils across Norfolk to prepare to integrate services and reorganise, if necessary.
What elections will happen in May 2027?
Owing to the review, local elections to every seat of the borough council will now take place in May 2027, alongside parish elections, instead of holding elections to elect councillors to new unitary authorities as previously timetabled for 2027.
What is happening with devolution in Norfolk and Suffolk?
The Government's devolution process is set to bring new powers and funding to boost jobs, transport, housing and growth in Norfolk and Suffolk. Both counties haves been accepted onto the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme (DPP).
Early in 2025, the Government held a public consultation on proposed devolution in Norfolk and Suffolk, specifically on the proposal to form a Strategic Authority headed by a mayor, covering both counties. The consultation closed on 13 April 2025 and you can read a summary of public responses on the GOV.UK website.
The Government has been continuing to work with the Norfolk and Suffolk county councils to establish the Mayoral Combined County Authority. Following the Government’s decision to proceed with county council elections in May 2026, the overall schedule for reconsent and the establishment of the Combined County Authority was paused until after the county council elections. We are expecting a decision to be made later in the year on whether to proceed with devolution in Norfolk and Suffolk.
Find out more on the Norfolk and Suffolk Combined County Authority website.
Further information
Further information about devolution and local government reorganisation in Norfolk can be found in the links below:
- English Devolution White Paper - GOV.UK
- Devolution revolution: six areas to elect Mayors for first time - GOV.UK
- Letter: Norfolk - GOV.UK
- Norfolk: Local government reorganisation - GOV.UK
- Local government reorganisation: decision letter to Norfolk council leaders - GOV.UK
- Local government reorganisation: programme review and decisions withdrawal letter to council leaders - GOV.UK