Proposals for local government reorganisation in Norfolk
The Government asked councils to submit proposals for local government reorganisation (LGR) in Norfolk - to replace county and district councils with new unitary authorities. These unitary authorities will run all services in their area.
Three proposals were submitted to Government for one, two, and three unitary councils for Norfolk.
Government decision
In March 2026 the Government confirmed its plans for local government reorganisation in Norfolk.
From April 2028, the existing eight councils will be replaced by three unitary councils, subject to formal parliamentary approval. These will be West Norfolk, East Norfolk, and Greater Norwich City.
Read more about the LGR process and decision on GOV.UK.
The proposals considered
Three proposals for Norfolk were submitted to Government in September 2025:
- One unitary council covering the whole county, submitted by Norfolk County Council. Read more about the proposal for one unitary council below.
- Two unitary councils, submitted by South Norfolk Council. Read more about the proposal for two unitary councils on the South Norfolk Council website.
- Three unitary councils (the option the Government has chosen), submitted by the other six district councils. Read more about the proposal for three unitary councils on the Future Norfolk website.
Before their decision, the Government consulted on proposals from 19 November 2025 to 11 January 2026. Read more about the consultation on GOV.UK.
The County Council was invited by the Government, as a named consultee, to respond to the proposals submitted for both Norfolk and Suffolk. Read our response to the Government consultation (PDF, 995 KB).
Norfolk County Council's proposal for one unitary council
The County Council developed and submitted a proposal for one single unitary council covering the whole of Norfolk. You can read the business case:
- One Norfolk One Council business case main report (PDF, 8 MB)
- Business case appendix A: Financial implications update (PDF, 259 KB)
- Business case appendix B: Community engagement model (PDF, 2 MB)
- Business case appendix C: Member engagement summary (PDF, 179 KB)
- Business case appendix D: Our prospectus for a new relationship with town and parish councils (PDF, 207 KB)
- Business case appendix E: Early views on the number of councillors in a single unitary council (PDF, 226 KB)
The main business case report and appendix B may not be accessible for some users. You can download an accessible version of the One Norfolk One Council business case main report (PDF, 1 MB). To request appendix B in an alternative format, please email [email protected]. Read our privacy notice to find out how we use your personal information.
