Consultations for Proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool

Overview

This statutory consultation seeks views on the proposals that the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has received following the Secretary of State’s invitation to councils in Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool to submit proposals for unitary local government for their area. You can find full details of the consultation, including a privacy statement, at: Local government reorganisation in Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool - GOV.UK.

The 5 proposals in this consultation were made by the following councils on 28 November 2025.

1. Lancashire County Council proposed 2 unitary councils. These would comprise the current areas of: 

• North Lancashire: Blackpool, Fylde, Lancaster, Preston, Ribble Valley and Wyre   

• South Lancashire: Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Chorley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale, South Ribble and West Lancashire 

2. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Fylde Borough Council, Hyndburn Borough Council, Rossendale Borough Council and Wyre Borough Council, proposed 3 unitary councils. These would comprise the current areas of: 

• Central Lancashire: Chorley, Preston, South Ribble and West Lancashire   

• Coastal Lancashire: Blackpool, Fylde, Lancaster and Wyre   

• Pennine Lancashire: Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and Ribble Valley

3. Chorley Borough Council, Lancaster City Council, Preston City Council, Ribble Valley Borough Council, South Ribble Borough Council and West Lancashire Borough Council proposed 4 unitary councils. These would comprise the current areas of: 

• Fylde Coast: Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre  

• North Lancashire: Lancaster, Preston and Ribble Valley   

• Pennine Lancashire: Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and Rossendale 

• South Lancashire: Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire   

4. Blackpool Council proposed 4 unitary councils. This includes a request to split existing district council areas between the proposed new councils. These would comprise the current areas of: 

• Eastern: Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale and 17 District Wards from Ribble Valley   

• Northern: Lancaster, 10 District Wards from Ribble Valley and 8 District Wards from Wyre  

• Southern: Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire  

• Western: Blackpool, Fylde, Preston, 16 District Wards from Wyre 

5. Burnley Borough Council and Pendle Borough Council proposed 5 unitary councils. These would comprise the current areas of: 

• East: Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale   

• Middle: Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley 

• North: Lancaster and Wyre   

• South: Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire   

• West: Blackpool, Fylde and Preston  

 All proposals can be found at: Proposals – Lancashire Local Government Reorganisation

This consultation asks questions about each proposal to help inform the assessment of the proposals.