Published: Thursday, 18th September 2025
Councillors are backing a strong, shared vision for the future of local government in Norfolk, which aims to ensure decisions on services are taken closer to communities and tailored to local needs.
The Government wants to see new single-tier ‘unitary’ authorities created in Norfolk, responsible for all services, replacing the eight existing district, borough, city and county councils – and is asking current authorities to make proposals for what future services could look like, ahead of a public consultation this autumn.
Working together as ‘Future Norfolk’, a partnership of six councils – Breckland Council, Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Broadland District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, North Norfolk District Council, and Norwich City Council – have developed a clear evidence-based proposal, informed by careful analysis, robust financial planning and extensive community engagement.
The Future Norfolk plan would see the creation of three new bespoke unitary authorities, serving three distinct geographies and communities across our large and diverse county — Greater Norwich, East Norfolk and West Norfolk – plus a new King’s Lynn Town Council to ensure Norfolk’s biggest town has a strong place-based democratic voice.
Three unitaries will mean local decisions can be made by local leaders and representatives who understand their communities, and services can be shaped by and tailored to the strengths and needs of each area, while councils are large enough to work more efficiently in delivering people’s priorities across all council services.
The final submission is backed by an eight-year financial business case designed to ensure all three councils are viable, delivering £220m net efficiencies over eight years and £49m+ recurring annual net savings from Year 4 through transformation work.
The new West unitary would enter reorganisation in the strongest financial position of the three, starting with a £10.7m surplus baseline position, providing a strong foundation for ongoing sustainability and service delivery in the geographic area currently served by West Norfolk, Breckland and part of South Norfolk.
West Norfolk's Full Council voted unanimously this evening to endorse the three-unitaries proposal. Councillors across the six authorities will scrutinise, debate and vote before submission to Government on 26 September. A Government-led public consultation is expected in November, giving everyone further opportunities to take part before any decisions are made.
Councillor Alistair Beales, the Council Leader, said: “The Government’s desire for Local Government Reorganisation is a significant moment of change. As six councils, we have chosen to meet it with ambition and unity, guided by evidence and shaped by the views of local residents, businesses and partners, to make the most of it for our communities.
“Three unitaries will deliver clearer local accountability and more responsive services tailored to local needs and opportunities, while remaining large enough to operate efficiently across all council services, supported by an eight-year financial business case designed to ensure all three councils are viable and deliver savings.
“From our recent Future Norfolk public survey, completed by nearly 5,000 people across Norfolk, including more than 1,300 across West Norfolk and Breckland, we know that local accountability, service responsiveness and efficiency are priorities for local people.
“Thank you to everyone who shared your views – as your local elected representatives, we hear you loud and clear. One mega council for Norfolk, centred in Norwich and covering all 2,074 square miles of our large and diverse county, is not the best way forward. That is reflected in tonight’s vote for three councils, shaped around sensible geographies and local identities, that will support thriving local communities, attract investment and deliver for the long term.
“Over the coming days no fewer than 269 district and city councillors will have the opportunity to scrutinise, debate and vote on our proposal before we submit to Government on 26 September. The Government will then launch a public consultation in November on all proposals it has received and I encourage everyone to have their say.”
People can read a summary of the proposal at www.futurenorfolk.com
Notes for editors:
The Future Norfolk proposal produces:
- Three local authorities which are of significant size and scale
- Three authorities which reflect the differences across Norfolk - from city to coast to countryside
- Three authorities which have economic opportunities which, partnering with the new Combined Authority, can unlock new homes, new skills and new jobs for local people
- Three authorities whose communities are different, with distinct needs best served by bespoke local public services
- Three authorities which are financially sustainable, safe and legal, with real opportunities to drive efficiencies, savings and local benefit
The three proposed authorities and their scale:
- Greater Norwich: population 278,000+, forecast 333,000+ by 2035
- East Norfolk: population 336,000+, forecast 406,000+ by 2035
- West Norfolk: population 300,000+, forecast 360,000+ by 2035
About Future Norfolk
Breckland District Council, Broadland District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, North Norfolk District Council and Norwich City Council have worked together to develop a single, evidence-based submission with a shared aim: a model that supports thriving communities, attracts investment and delivers for the long term.