Key dates
February 2025
Councils received a Statutory Invitation from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on 5 February 2025.
This set out the Government’s expectations with regards to local government reorganisation, including a series of key deadlines that councils need to meet and the criteria they must follow when developing plans and proposals.
March 2025
The Government has told councils that it wants Interim Plans for local government reorganisation by 21 March 2025.
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has advised councils that March is primarily a checkpoint to get assurance that councils are working together to develop proposals in line with the government’s criteria.
March interim plans can describe more than one potential proposal for an area, if there is more than one option under consideration.
November 2025
Full proposals for local government reorganisation must be submitted to the Government by 28 November 2025.
These proposals need to show how councils in an area have worked together in coming to a view that meets local needs and is informed by local views.
January 2026
The Government has said it aims to carry out public consultation around proposals for local government reorganisation in early 2026.
The final decision on proposals for local government reorganisation will also be taken by the Government. This final decision is expected by summer 2026.