Proposal

Contents

• What is LGR
• Proposal
• Government criteria
• What happens next
• Helping you understand what this means for you
• Interim plan and government feedback

We have formally submitted our proposal to Government which is available to view:

Our proposal is based on four unitary councils:

• Torbay Council remaining as it is
• Plymouth City Council being expanded to cover thirteen parishes currently in South Hams District Council
• A new Exeter Council would be created, reflecting the city’s growing economic and regional influence
• A new Rural Devon Coast and Countryside Council

This submission marks the culmination of a process that began with the publication of the English Devolution White Paper in December 2024, where Government outlined its ambition to simplify local government by replacing the current two-tier system of district and county councils with fewer, single-tier unitary authorities. These new councils would be responsible for delivering all local services within their areas.

In developing our proposal, we have successfully engaged with our residents. We had 1,430 responses to our engagement survey. The feedback showed that 64% of respondents support Torbay Council remaining as it is. Many expressed their confidence in how things are run, a strong sense of local identity, and the importance of financial sustainability and democratic representation.

We now await the Government’s response in spring 2026.