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16 July 2026

Government announces Local Government Reorganisation decision for Lancashire

The government has today announced its decision on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Lancashire. This decision, subject to Parliamentary approval, represents the biggest change in local government in more than 50 years.

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Under the plans four new unitary councils will be created, replacing all 15 existing councils. The new unitary councils will cover:

  • North Lancashire – made up of Lancaster, Preston and Ribble Valley
  • West Lancashire – made up of Fylde, Wyre and Blackpool 
  • East Lancashire – made up of Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Rossendale, Pendle and Burnley
  • South Lancashire – made up of Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire

The changes, which are subject to Parliamentary approval, will see the new unitary councils take responsibility for all local services in their areas.

The government has confirmed that elections to the new shadow councils will take place in May 2027. All councils have been working together to do the necessary preliminary work to prepare for this and there is a team ready to implement the changes needed for the new unitary councils going live on 1 April 2028.

For now, all current 15 councils will continue to provide high-quality services to residents and communities with no immediate changes to how those services are delivered or accessed.

A spokesperson for Lancashire’s LGR board of chief executives, said:

“Today’s announcement marks an important milestone for Lancashire. "While there will understandably be a great deal of interest in what this means for our residents, businesses and communities, it is important to stress that for now, it is very much business as usual. “No matter how we are reshaped, our priority remains unchanged – to continue delivering high-quality services while we work together across Lancashire to plan the next steps. “There is strong collaboration already in place. By working together, we have a real opportunity to create something positive for our residents, communities and workforce. This is a long-term change, and there is time to ensure the transition is carefully managed. “We recognise that change of this scale can bring uncertainty. We are committed to being open and transparent throughout the process, keeping residents, staff and partners informed as more details become available.”

Local Government Reorganisation is part of a wider national programme intended to create simpler and more effective council structures.

The government has said residents should see no disruption to services as these changes are made, and councillors will continue in their roles representing and supporting their communities throughout the transition.

Further updates, including key milestones and opportunities to ask questions, will be shared over the coming months as plans develop.

More information is available at www.lancashirelgr.co.uk.

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