Nottinghamshire residents, businesses and organisations have one week left to take part in the Government consultation on Local Government Reorganisation.
The consultation, which launched in February, is open until Thursday 26 March and is gathering views on three proposals submitted to Government for Local Government Reorganisation in the area.
The Government has already confirmed that it has received a high number of responses and is encouraging more people to take part before the consultation closes. Responses will inform the ministerial decision on the preferred option for the region.
In November 2025, councils across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire submitted three different proposals to Government that set out alternative models for how services and decision making could be organised in the future. Each proposal recommends creating two new unitary councils responsible for all local services in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, but each suggests different geographical boundaries. Broxtowe Borough Council decided not to support any of the options and called for a pause on LGR so it could be considered more fully. Ashfield District Council decided to remain neutral and did not show any preference for any particular option.
Nottingham City Council submitted a proposal known as Bii (city conurbation model), which aims to:
- move from nine councils to two – creating one-stop councils
- create a real conurbation of Nottingham under a single core city council to maximise economic growth
- create the most balanced and financially sustainable city conurbation council
- lower costs, with fewer top posts, and greater opportunities
- have fewer elected members – with more power
- strengthen community engagement and neighbourhood empowerment
- create a long-term model that provides ongoing benefits for generations to come.
Councillor Neghat Khan, Leader of Nottingham City Council said:
“This proposal is not the easy option but the right option for the next 50 years. It is based on a boundary change and not whole districts building blocks which we know are outdated It recommends the creation of two new unitary councils – one focussed on the urban conurbation of Nottingham, and one encompassing the more rural areas in order to properly align to residents’ sense of local identity, how people actually move around, use services, and work across the region. It combines the strongest elements of the other proposals and creates a stable foundation for a thriving, modern Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. We need everyone in Nottingham to take part in the consultation, and have our voices heard.”
A summary of this proposal is available here: Bii (city conurbation model) summary document
Bassetlaw District Council, Gedling Borough Council, Mansfield District Council and Newark and Sherwood District Council have submitted a proposal known as 1e. This north-south proposal recommends the creation of two new unitary councils:
- Sherwood Forest (North Nottinghamshire) – comprising Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Gedling, Mansfield, and Newark and Sherwood.
- Nottingham and South Nottinghamshire (South Nottinghamshire) – comprising Broxtowe, Nottingham City, and Rushcliffe
And Nottinghamshire County Council and Rushcliffe Borough Council have submitted a proposal known as 1b. This proposal recommends the creation of two new unitary councils:
- Nottingham Council - comprising Broxtowe, Gedling, and Nottingham City.
- Nottinghamshire Council - comprising Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood, and Rushcliffe.
More information on all of the options is available online at lgrnotts.org.
The Government survey is also available at lgrnotts.org, or paper copies can be accessed in all council libraries and Nottingham leisure centres. The Government has written directly to some statutory consultees, but anyone can take part and provide their views.
A spokesperson on behalf of all nine councils said:
“We know there has been a good level of responses to Government on the proposals for Local Government Reorganisation and we have been actively engaging with residents, partners and community groups to make them aware of the Government statutory consultation.
“This is the last chance for people to engage with one of the most important changes to local government in over 50 years, and we urge people to take part.”
Government will assess the evidence gathered, alongside the submitted proposals, against its established criteria before the Secretary of State makes a final decision in Summer 2026. Any agreed changes would then move into a detailed implementation phase to ensure continuity of services throughout.
More information about the consultation and how to take part can be found at lgrnotts.org.