English Devolution White Paper
Local government in Suffolk is changing. All county, district and borough councils are being replaced with 'unitary' councils, which will be responsible for delivering all services.
We are working together, with district and borough councils in Suffolk, on an ambitious proposal for three unitary councils, which will deliver services to different parts of the county.
We believe these will meet the differing needs of our diverse communities - councils that are big enough to deliver, local enough to care.
We asked for your feedback by completing our online survey (hosted by Mid Suffolk District Council) which closed on 25 July 2025.
This information will be used to help shape the future of local government in Suffolk.
English Devolution White Paper
On 16 December 2024 Government published its English Devolution White Paper GOV.UK - English Devolution White Paper. This included the creation of mayors and strategic authorities to support their work. County councils were invited to take part in the Devolution Priority Programme to be some of the first to create new mayors under the Government guidance.
In addition district, borough and county councils were invited to take part in Local Government Reorganisation which looks at delivering all council services under new unitary authorities serving a particular area.
Devolution Priority Programme
Norfolk and Suffolk have been accepted on the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme to create one mayor for the two counties supported by a mayoral combined authority.
The government has outlined that the mayor and new authorities will have funding and powers devolved to them from Government. You can find out more about this as well as the consultation the Government is running on proposals GOV.UK - Norfolk and Suffolk devolution consultation
Key devolution dates
1 May 2026: Election of mayor of Norfolk and Suffolk
Local government reorganisation
Local government reorganisation would see all six of Suffolk’s district, borough and county councils disbanded and replaced with one or more unitary authorities. They would provide all councils services in an area.
At this stage, no decision has been made on whether Suffolk would be covered by a single or multiple unitary councils. Government has asked councils to submit proposals for their deadline of 26 September 2025.
Suffolk borough and district councils worked together to produce a joint interim report looking at what would be the best unitary solution for the county while taking into account Government guidance. This was agreed by West Suffolk Council, Babergh District Council, East Suffolk Council, Ipswich Borough Council and Mid Suffolk District Council and sent to Government to meet their 21 March deadline.
This report was designed to show the shape of proposals and direction of travel.
Read the Interim Plan for Suffolk Local Government Reorganisation
Government was supportive of the plans going forward for further work so that final and more detailed proposals could be submitted to meet their 26 September deadline.
Suffolk district and borough councils agreed in July to focus on working up detailed plans for three unitary councils for Suffolk.
Case for change – reorganisation of local government in Suffolk
Following evidence gathering, detailed work and shaped by public opinion Suffolk’s district and borough councils have put together a final business case to reorganise local government in Suffolk.
The Case for Change - Three Councils for Suffolk was agreed at the appropriate meetings of Suffolk’s district and borough councils in September. The Case for Change has been sent to Government Big enough to deliver, local enough to care
Central government is set to open its own public consultation into the proposals from November 2025, expected to run until February 2026, before making a final decision next year.
Key local government reorganisation dates
- 21 March 2025: Outline business cases to be submitted to government
- 26 September 2025: Final business cases to be submitted to government