Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Devon – Easy read
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The Government decided to change how councils work in Devon.
This decision was made on July 16th 2026.
It said that 4 new unitary councils would be created across the county.
These new councils will replace Devon County Council and the district councils that currently provide local services.
You can use this postcode checker to see which council will be providing your services.
What is a unitary council?
A unitary council is 1 council that provides all the local services in its area.
Instead of lots of different councils doing different jobs, 1 council will be responsible for everything.
This means 1 council will provide:
Adult Social Care
Childrens services and education
Housing and planning
Waste and recycling
Roads and transport
Libraries
Public health
Why is this changing?
The Government wants local government (councils also known as local authorities) to be simpler.
The aim is to:
Make services easier to understand.
Make it clearer which council is responsible for services.
Make it easier for people to get help and information.
Help councils use time and money well so services are better for local people.
What will change?
There will be fewer councils; before the announcement there were 11 working across the county.
People will have:
1 council to contact
1 website to access information and advice
1 set of councillors for most local services
What does this mean for me?
In the future:
Website addresses may change
Council names may change
Telephone numbers may change
Online forms may change
Services will continue during the change process and people will still be able to access the support they need.
People will be told about any changes before they happen.
When will the new councils start?
Changes will happen over the next two years.
The new councils will use this time to plan carefully, so services are ready when they start.
The start date for the new councils is April 1st 2028.
Until then your local council will continue to provide your services.
How will I find out about changes?
You will be told about important changes before they happen.
Information may be shared through:
Council websites
Letters or emails
Local news
Community organisations and groups
Social media
Things to remember:
Any services you receive from your council will continue.
You do not need to do anything right now.
You will be told about any important changes before they happen.
The new councils will start from April 1st 2028
Easy read created by the Involvement and Equality Team at Devon County Council – July 2026
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