COUNCILS across Devon are getting ready to tell the government in November what they want to do when local councils are re-organised from 2028.

The plan from Westminster is to do away with a level of local government entirely, with large unitary councils taking on the roles currently held by county and district councils.

The government would dearly like all councils to agree on their future structures. Among the possible permutations are:

  • Torbay and an expanded Plymouth remaining as unitary authorities, with Exeter and the rest of Devon becoming a third unitary. Plymouth would expand to absorb a dozen parishes in the South Hams and West Devon. Torbay may have to expand into parts of the Teignbridge and the South Hams to achieve the required population numbers;
  • The 1-4-5 model originally favoured by all of the county’s rural district councils. Plymouth remains as the one unitary; Torbay, Teignbridge, South Hams and West Devon form the four for a second unitary while Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon and Torridge form the five to make a third;
  • An expanded Plymouth remains as unitary, while Exeter spreads out into parts of East Devon and Teignbridge to become a second large unitary. Torbay and the rest of Devon make up the third;
  • North Devon District Council has been debating another permutation, which would leave Plymouth as it is while setting up a council for Northern Devon with Barnstaple as its hub, and a separate authority for the south of the county, with its hub in Exeter.

As the timetable stands at the moment, council submissions will go to the government at the end of November.

After the decision is announced in mid-2026, there will be elections to a new “shadow” authority in May 2027, with those elected councillors taking over a new-shape Devon in May 2028.