We have today formally submitted our proposal for Local Government Reorganisation in Devon to the Government, following agreement at the Extraordinary Meeting of the Council on Thursday 20 November.

Our proposal is based on a four unitary council model:

• Torbay Council would retain its existing boundaries, continuing as a distinct and successful unitary authority serving its coastal communities.
• Plymouth City Council’s boundaries would be expanded to cover its Growth Area.
• A new Exeter Council would be created, reflecting the city’s growing economic and regional influence.
• A new Rural Devon Coast and Countryside Authority would form the fourth unitary, ensuring that together all four councils can respond effectively to the diverse needs of residents across urban, rural, and coastal areas.

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.

During the summer, we undertook public consultation and stakeholder engagement to inform its proposal. The outcome was decisive: 64% of respondents favoured retaining Torbay’s current boundaries. This strong level of support played a central role in shaping the proposal that has now been submitted to Government.

Councillor David Thomas, Leader of Torbay Council, said:

“Today marks an important milestone as we formally submit Torbay’s proposal to Government. I am proud that the collective effort has ensured the voice of Torbay residents is at the heart of this submission.

We now look ahead to the next stage of the process and await the Government’s response in spring 2026, confident that Torbay’s case has been clearly and strongly made.”

Our proposal is available online: www.torbay.gov.uk/lgr/proposal/