25/03/26: Government supports Breckland Council's proposed solution of three Unitary Councils for Norfolk

The Government has announced its intention to abolish Norfolk's existing two-tier system of Local Government which currently comprises eight district and county councils and instead replace them with three new unitary authorities for the county.

The areas of Breckland Council and Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, plus a small number of parishes from South Norfolk, will be replaced by a new authority for West Norfolk.

The decision today will also see two additional unitary authorities established, one for Norwich and one for East Norfolk.

These three unitary councils will be responsible for providing all local authority services within their respective areas, including social care, planning, highways, housing, education and waste.

Working as part of the Future Norfolk partnership comprising a number of local district councils, Breckland Council supported the 'three' model in its submission to Government at the end of last year.

Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Breckland Council's Leader, commented: "I welcome the Government's announcement today. As much as I would have preferred the status quo, the three unitary proposal developed by Breckland Council and our partners, with the priorities of local people in mind, sets out a strong vision for the future of local government placing residents at the heart of how we deliver services for them in Norfolk. 

"Three unitary councils will be large enough to work efficiently across all council services and with Health and other partners and, of the choices available, remains the most democratically representative and responsive to local resident's needs. 

"Breckland Council will continue to work collaboratively with our partners to deliver a smooth transition to the new model and together shape the new authority in line with what our residents have told us are important to them."

Cllr Bill Borrett, Breckland Council's Executive Member for LGR and Devolution, added: "I'm very concerned by the Government's decision to continue with Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). Here in Breckland, it will almost certainly result in residents paying higher council tax without gaining any extra for it."

Details of the three model proposal which helped inform the Government's decision can be found at www.futurenorfolk.com.

All of Norfolk's existing Local Authorities will work together to ensure that the transition to the new unitaries is as efficient and effective as possible.

Key dates:

• May 2027 - Shadow elections take place for the new unitary council.
• 31 March 2028 - Breckland Council will close.
• 1 April 2028 - The new unitary council 'goes live' and takes over from predecessors.

Throughout the transition period, all council services currently delivered by Breckland Council, such as waste collection, planning and housing support, will continue to be delivered as normal.