LGR and Devolution for Norfolk

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

The Government has announced that it is reviewing Local Government Reorganisation plans, including the previous decision made for Norfolk.

As part of this review, the previous decision for Norfolk has been withdrawn and will now be considered alongside other areas. This means the previously announced proposal for three new unitary councils in Norfolk is no longer the current settled position while the review takes place.

For residents, businesses and anyone who needs council support or services, nothing changes at the moment. South Norfolk Council and Broadland District Council continue to operate as normal, and you should keep contacting us in the usual ways.

Our priority remains making sure residents, businesses and communities continue to receive reliable, high-quality services.

The Government has also stated that local elections in May 2027 will go ahead on existing council boundaries.

We are reviewing the announcement and awaiting further detail. We will update this page when more information becomes available.

Previous unitary proposals

The information below relates to the previous proposal for three new unitary council areas in Norfolk. This proposal is now subject to the Government’s review and should not be treated as the confirmed future structure for local government in Norfolk.

Below you can find links to the proposals Broadland District Council, as part of Future Norfolk, and South Norfolk Council submitted to the government.

Devolution

Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. It is important because it ensures that decisions are made closer to the local people, communities and businesses they affect. For our area, the proposal is for powers to be devolved to a new ‘Strategic Authority’ for Norfolk and Suffolk, overseen by a newly elected Mayor for the area.

The Government began a public consultation on devolution in February 2025, which will remain open for comments until 13 April 2025.

Broadland District Council: You can view Broadland District Council's response to the Norfolk and Suffolk devolution consultation which was agreed at its Council meeting on 20 March 2025.

South Norfolk Council: You can view South Norfolk Council's response to the Norfolk and Suffolk devolution consultation which was agreed at its Council meeting on 18 March 2025.