Consultation on Proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire

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 Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire 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 Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire - GOV.UK.

The 4 proposals in this consultation were made by the following councils on 28 November 2025.

1. Boston Borough Council, East Lindsey District and South Holland District Council proposed 2 unitary councils. These would comprise the current areas of: 

• Northern Lincolnshire: Lincoln, North-East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and West Lindsay 

• Southern Lincolnshire: Boston, East Lindsey, South Holland, North Kesteven and South Kesteven 

2. City of Lincoln 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: 

• Lincoln City: Lincoln, plus 12 wards from North Kesteven and 7 wards from West Lindsey   

• Rural Lincolnshire: Boston, East Lindsey, South Kesteven, South Holland, plus North Kesteven minus 12 wards and West Lindsey minus 7 wards   

• North East Lincolnshire to remain unchanged 

• North Lincolnshire to remain unchanged 

3. Lincolnshire County Council (supported by North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire) proposed 3 unitary councils. These would comprise the current areas of:

• North East Lincolnshire to remain unchanged 

• North Lincolnshire to remain unchanged 

• Lincolnshire: Boston, City of Lincoln, East Lindsey, North Kesteven, South Holland, South Kesteven, and West Lindsey  

4. North Kesteven District Council and South Kesteven District Council proposed 4 unitary councils. These would comprise the current areas of: 

• Unitary Authority 1: North Kesteven, South Holland, South Kesteven 

• Unitary Authority 2: Boston, City of Lincoln, East Lindsey, West Lindsey 

• North East Lincolnshire to remain unchanged 

• North Lincolnshire to remain unchanged 

West Lindsey District Council did not submit a proposal. 

You can find all these proposals at: Greater Lincolnshire LGR Hub

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