Nottingham City Council’s Leader has said the government’s decision on Local Government Reorganisation is a major vote of confidence in Nottingham’s vision for stronger local government, as it confirmed today that the council’s boundary review proposal (Bii) will be taken forward.
The decision follows a statutory consultation launched earlier this year, which considered three options for replacing existing councils with new unitary authorities.
Leader of Nottingham City Council, Cllr Neghat Khan said:
“We are delighted that government has chosen to take forward our proposal for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. This is a significant endorsement of the vision we have championed throughout this process and reflects the strength of the case we have made for communities across the area.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape local government around the way people actually live their lives and to build a stronger future for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
“Our proposal recognises that Greater Nottingham functions as a single economic area, with hundreds of thousands of people travelling across administrative boundaries every day for work, education, healthcare, shopping and leisure. At the same time, it recognises that rural communities have their own distinct opportunities and challenges and deserve a council focused on their needs.
“By creating two strong and sustainable unitary councils, built around the realities of our urban and rural communities, we can deliver services that are more responsive, more accountable and better connected to the people they serve.”
The Council’s Bii proposal set out a boundary review approach, aligning council structures more closely with Nottingham’s real economic and social geography, including the wider urban area beyond the current city boundary.
The proposal would create two new unitary councils – one serving Nottingham and the wider urban area, and one serving the more rural parts of Nottinghamshire. The model is designed to create councils that are large enough to be financially resilient and sustainable, while remaining close enough to the communities they serve.
One council will cover:
- The current local government areas of Nottingham City and parts of Broxtowe, Gedling, and Rushcliffe.
And the other will cover:
- The current local government areas of Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood, and parts of Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe.
A map is available to find out which authority your address would be part of when the new authorities are created in 2028. Check your address on the LGR Notts website.
Cllr Khan added:
“For too long, local government boundaries have not kept pace with the way our communities have grown and connected. Government’s decision recognises the reality of modern Nottingham and the important role the city plays as the economic, cultural and transport heart of the wider area.
“This proposal brings governance into line with the way people use services and the way our economy functions, creating councils that are fit for the future.”
Cllr Khan said the new arrangements would support stronger public services, clearer accountability and improved outcomes for residents.
“Residents deserve local government that is easy to understand and works effectively on their behalf. Two sustainable unitary councils will simplify the system, reduce duplication and create organisations with the scale and resilience needed to deliver high-quality services for decades to come.
“They will be better placed to tackle inequality, support economic growth, attract investment, improve infrastructure and create opportunities for local people across both urban and rural communities.
“This is about creating councils that have a clear sense of place, a strong local identity and the ability to deliver for the communities they represent.”
Nottingham City Council confirmed it will continue to work closely with neighbouring authorities, government and partners as the programme moves into its next phase.
Cllr Khan said:
“Today’s announcement is not the end of the process – it is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
“We now have the opportunity to work with residents, businesses, partners and communities to shape a modern system of local government that reflects how our area works today and is ready for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.
“We are committed to working constructively with colleagues across Nottinghamshire to make these changes a success. This is about building a system that works for everyone and creating a foundation for a more effective, more responsive and more ambitious future.
“While structures will change, our commitment to local communities will not. Neighbourhoods will continue to have a strong voice in shaping the decisions that affect them.
“Throughout this next stage, we will continue listening, working collaboratively and ensuring that both urban and rural communities benefit from a stronger, fairer and more sustainable system of local government.”
The next phase of work will focus on planning and delivering the transition to the new unitary councils. Elections will take place in May 2027, followed by the creation of shadow authorities, with the new councils formally coming into effect on 1 April 2028.
Find out more about Local Government Reorganisation in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire online: LGRnotts.org