Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is the Government’s programme to simplify how councils are organised in England, including in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. It proposes replacing county and district councils with new councils responsible for all local council services in their areas. These are called ‘unitary councils’.
The government will make the final decision on which Cambridgeshire and Peterborough option is selected.
The Government paused LGR on 7 September 2026 to assess whether the plans remain sound and fit its new priorities. On 29 October 2026, it confirmed that no decision had yet been made for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and said a decision for our area was expected by early 2027 at the latest.
In the meantime, it confirmed that local elections in May 2027 will take place using the current council boundaries, where elections are due. This includes elections for Cambridge City Council.
We are awaiting further details, including a timetable for any changes to council arrangements. We will update this page as more information becomes available. You can read the latest announcement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
Council services remain unchanged, and we are still here to help. You can continue to contact the council in the usual ways.
Why local councils are being reorganised
In December 2024, the national government set out plans to move towards a new system of local government, abolishing all ‘two-tier’ areas in England. That means that the below seven Cambridgeshire councils could be replaced by a smaller number of new unitary authorities:
- Cambridge City Council
- Cambridgeshire County Council
- East Cambridgeshire District Council
- Fenland District Council
- Huntingdonshire District Council
- Peterborough City Council
- South Cambridgeshire District Council
When this happens, rather than dealing with separate county, city, and district councils, residents will access all services from one new unitary council for their area - from road maintenance and bin collections to education, planning, social housing, social care, and support with benefits.
Where areas have parish and town councils, these will not be affected and will continue to operate as they do now.
Timelines and next steps
Here are the main steps so far and the current plans for what happens next.
- December 2024: The Government published its plans to reorganise local government.
- 5 February 2025: Councils were formally invited to submit proposals.
- 21 March 2025: Council leaders sent an update on their early plans to the Government.
- June and July 2025: Options were developed and residents, businesses and community organisations shared their views. The joint survey ran from 19 June to 20 July.
- September and October 2025: Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District councils ran a joint survey about the future of Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire councils about our preferred option (option B).
- October and November 2025: Councils considered the options before submission.
- 28 November 2025: Four proposals were submitted: Options A, B, D and E. Option C was not submitted.
- 5 February to 26 March 2026: The Government held a formal public consultation on the four proposals.
- 16 July 2026: The Government said more time was needed to consider which proposal, if any, to implement in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. At that stage, it aimed to make a decision by October at the latest.
- 7 September 2026: The Government announced a review and paused its decision.
- 29 October 2026: The Government confirmed that all proposals remain under consideration.
- By early 2027 at the latest: The Government’s decision is expected.
- May 2027: Local elections will go ahead on existing council boundaries, including district elections in Cambridge City Council.
- May 2028 (provisional): Elections to shadow councils are currently targeted for this date.
- April 2029 (provisional): The new councils are currently expected to take over services.
The May 2028 and April 2029 dates are provisional. The timetable for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will depend on the Government’s final decision. No date has been confirmed for the legal order that would put the changes in place.
Hearing from local people
Spring 2026
The government consulted in spring 2026 on the four proposals submitted by Cambridgeshire's councils. The consultation closed on 26 March.
Autumn 2025
Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District councils ran a joint survey about the future of Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire councils in September and October about the preferred option (option B).
More than two thirds of respondents, 69%, supported a new unitary council for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire. You can read the report, or read our autumn 2025 highlights.
Summer 2025
Following the government announcing in December 2024 its plans for local government reorganisation, local councils were asked to explore options and engage with local people.
The seven Cambridgeshire councils ran a joint survey in June and July 2025 asking residents for general feedback about local government and their future priorities.
View the three reports produced following this survey, or read the summer 2025 highlights.
Summer 2024
Prior to national government setting out in December 2024 its plans for local government reorganisation, a motion was approved at Full Council in October 2023 calling on the council to consider whether current local government arrangements are the most appropriate form of governance for Cambridge.
This led to a public engagement exercise taking place during summer 2024. You can read the report, or read our summer 2024 highlights.
