Overview of approach
We have carried out a preliminary options appraisal, to review potential new local government arrangements and how they align to the criteria set by the Government for this process. All options considered to date have followed the guidance issued on 5 February 2025 and used district council boundaries as the building blocks for this initial work. We recognise that other options may emerge informed by further analysis and evidence and clarification from MHCLG particularly on size and boundaries.
At this stage we have identified five potential options and a baseline scenario.
We have considered a single unitary council for the whole area of Devon, including Plymouth and Torbay administrative areas as a baseline scenario and not as an option we are considering at this stage. It has been the starting point to bench mark the following five options:
1. A two unitary model for Plymouth and Devon:
- Plymouth, remains on existing boundaries;
- Devon, includes Torbay, South Hams, West Devon, Teignbridge, Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon and Torridge.
2. A two unitary model based on North and South areas of Devon:
- South Devon includes Plymouth, Teignbridge, South Hams and Torbay; and
- North Devon includes Exeter, East Devon, North Devon, Torridge, West Devon and Mid Devon..
3. A two unitary model based on South West Devon and North East Devon:
- South West Devon includes Plymouth, South Hams and West Devon; and
- North East Devon includes Exeter, East Devon, Torbay, Teignbridge, North Devon, Torridge and Mid Devon.
4. A three unitary model of Plymouth, Greater Exeter and the rest of Devon:
- Plymouth, remains on existing boundaries;
- Greater Exeter includes Exeter, East Devon and Mid Devon; and the
- rest of Devon includes Torbay, Teignbridge, North Devon, Torridge, South Hams and West Devon..
5. A three unitary model of Plymouth, North East Devon and South West Devon:
- Plymouth, remains on existing boundaries;
- North East Devon, includes Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon and Torridge; and
- South West Devon, includes Torbay, South Hams, Teignbridge and West Devon..
Other potential options
No change for Plymouth and Torbay, with a unitary across the Devon two-tier area.
The Government has put both Plymouth and Torbay in scope for the reorganisation process although could choose not to pursue this, with change required only in the two- tier area of Devon. In this scenario, only a single new council across the two-tier area would ensure unitary arrangements which meet the Government’s criteria on population size. A proposal for a single unitary authority for the whole area covered by Devon County Council was proposed by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England in July 2008.1
Unitary authorities with expansion of boundaries involving a boundary review process.
Plymouth City Council has made a public statement that this is their preferred option, extending to cover 13 parish areas. This is more aligned to the Government’s population criteria although still falls beneath the 500,000 threshold and it would require a boundary review and consultation with local parishes.
Other
We will consider any proposals that are put forward as part of the process by partner local authorities that meet the Government criteria along with any further options from the County Council’s new administration following the County Council elections in May. All options developed at the next stage will consider any Government feedback and further clarity on scale, boundaries and timescales.
Initial analysis
At this stage it is not possible to determine the optimum solution that would be right for the residents of Devon, and more analysis and detailed work is required which is set out below in section 4.