The government announces outcome of review into local government reorganisation (LGR)
Published: Thursday, 29th October 2026
It has made a new minded-to decision to replace the seven existing councils in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire with three new unitary councils.
Government has said it is minded-to proceed with decisions in five areas, including ours, but this will be open to further representation and views from council leaders and interested parties for approximately three weeks. Following this, an update will be made to Parliament on these decisions before Christmas.
The five areas are East-Sussex and Brighton and Hove, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.
In Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, three new councils will be:
Greater Oxford Council – covering Oxford and its immediate surroundings.
North Oxfordshire Council – covering most of the existing Cherwell and West Oxfordshire districts.
Ridgeway Council – covering most of the existing South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts, combined with West Berkshire.
Councillor Lesley McLean, Leader of Cherwell District Council, said:
"Cherwell residents have, yet again, been let down by this government’s decision to progress with the three unitary proposal. This feels like another missed opportunity.
“When the government announced this review, we hoped it would provide a genuine opportunity to revisit the case for local government reorganisation across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, including proper consideration of the two-unitary model.
"While this decision provides certainty, councils have spent several weeks in a holding pattern only to arrive at largely the same destination. Residents will reasonably ask what the delay has achieved and whether the concerns raised by councils and communities have been properly considered.
"Throughout this process, Cherwell has consistently highlighted concerns about the long-term financial resilience of the three-unitary model and the importance of getting these decisions right.
“Our focus will now be on putting the new authorities in the best possible position to succeed from day one, while ensuring residents and local communities remain at the heart of every decision.”
The new councils are due to go live on 1 April 2029, with elections to the new shadow authorities taking place in May 2028.
The district and unitary council elections in Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, West Oxfordshire and West Berkshire will go ahead in May 2027 on the existing council boundaries.
All councils will continue to work together to implement the government’s decision and deliver the best services for communities.
Find out which new council will serve your community and what this means for your area: 3councils.org
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For more information about this release, contact the Cherwell District Council communications team via email communications.team@cherwell-dc.gov.uk