20/11/2025
CHANGING TIMES
Wyre Council agrees position for upcoming Local Government Reorganisation
Local government is changing. The Government intends to abolish the current two-tier system of 15 councils across Lancashire by creating new unitary councils that will provide all local services.
This process, known as Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), aims to simplify and streamline services. Lancashire must submit its proposals to Government by 28 November 2025, outlining potential options for creating new unitary authorities.
Wyre Council has been working with Blackburn with Darwen, Fylde, Hyndburn and Rossendale on a three-unitary council model as the preferred option for Lancashire. This model can deliver better services, stronger leadership and faster growth, while staying connected to the communities and places that define us. It would provide the smallest council areas that still comply with the government’s requirements.
The vision for three new unitary councils, is balanced in scale and rooted in real places and will create the capacity and clarity needed to unlock Lancashire’s potential. The new unitaries will deliver stronger services for geographies that reflect places, communities and key partner footprints, give businesses and government credible partners for growth and devolution, and reconnect decision-making to the places people live, work and learn in.
Our model for Lancashire will see the region split into three-unitary authorities, designed to deliver services efficiently while maintaining a strong local voice and brings together areas with common ground in tourism, industry, transport, energy, and coastal matters.
For Lancashire, this model will:
Save £188.4 million by 2032
Keep strong local identities for our unique towns
Mirror how police, health & other organisations work
Ensure services stay close to local communities
Under this model, Wyre would join with Fylde, Blackpool and Lancaster to form one of the new councils and would serve a population of almost 500,000 people.
The proposed councils under the three-unitary model:
Coastal Lancashire – Blackpool, Fylde, Lancaster and Wyre (approx. 493,000 people). A hub for tourism, clean energy and innovation, home to Blackpool’s visitor economy, Heysham’s energy cluster and Lancaster University.
Central Lancashire – Chorley, Preston, South Ribble and West Lancashire (approx. 522,000 people). Strengths in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, digital and agri-tech, supported by major investment and transport links.
Pennine Lancashire – Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale (approx. 586,000 people). A nationally significant centre for advanced manufacturing, aerospace and green industries.
We’ve invested significant effort into shaping a vision for Lancashire’s future, one that ensures our economy continues to prosper, our communities receive the support they need, and residents benefit from unitary authorities focused on delivering outstanding local services. This approach has strong backing from existing councils, public sector partners and businesses, it’s financially sustainable and, most importantly, it works for our residents and communities.
People want councils that provide reliable, high-quality services and are committed to helping the region thrive. They expect their local authority to understand their area, its opportunities, and its challenges and the three-unitary model is designed to deliver exactly that.
There is an indicative timeline that we are working towards, and we will provide regular updates on our website at www.wyre.gov.uk/LGR
20 November – Proposal debated by Full Council
26 November – Executive Council approval
28 November – Submission to Government
Spring 2026 – Statutory consultation
Summer 2026 – Government decision
May 2027 – Shadow elections
1 April 2028 – New councils go live
Councillor Michael Vincent, Leader of Wyre Council, said:
"This represents one of the most significant changes to local government in Lancashire in more than 50 years. We do not welcome this change and do not believe it to be in the best interests of our residents, but we have been required to submit a proposal. The government have made clear that they intend to proceed with local government reorganisation whether councils and the public support it or not"
"Our preferred option is a three-unitary model, which we believe strikes the right balance between delivering efficient services, maintaining strong local representation, and meeting the Government’s criteria. It provides the most effective solution to meet all six of those criteria, reflects how Lancashire’s economy, services and communities already operate, and offers the best platform for a successful future."
"Throughout this process, we have listened carefully to the views of our workforce, residents, partners and Government. Their feedback has been invaluable in refining our position and ensuring our final proposal delivers the best possible outcome for Wyre, one that protects local identity, improves service delivery, and supports long-term sustainability."
"Our priority is to secure a governance model that works for our communities and reflects their needs and aspirations. We will continue to engage, adapt and advocate for what’s right for Wyre throughout this journey."
You can read the full proposal for the three-unitary council option and find out what this means for you on our website: www.wyre.gov.uk/LGR
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
