Consultation on Proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Norfolk and Suffolk

Closes 11 Jan 2026

This service needs cookies enabled.

Consultation on the proposal from Babergh District Council, East Suffolk District Council, Ipswich Borough Council, Mid Suffolk District Council, and West Suffolk District Council

Consultation for 3 unitary councils:

  1. Western Suffolk: West Suffolk (plus 21 parishes from Mid Suffolk), and Babergh (less 31 parishes).
  2. Central and Eastern: Mid Suffolk (less 29 parishes), and East Suffolk (less 25 parishes).
  3. Ipswich and Southern Suffolk: Ipswich (plus 31 parishes from Babergh, 8 parishes from Mid Suffolk, and 25 parishes from East Suffolk).

This proposal is accompanied by a request for boundary change to split existing districts between new unitary councils. Please answer the questions on the proposal including the modifications. We will also ask you an additional question on whether you think there is a strong justification for these splits.

1. To what extent do you agree or disagree that the proposal suggests councils that are based on sensible geographies and economic areas?
2. To what extent do you agree or disagree that the proposed councils will be able to deliver the outcomes they describe in the proposal?
3. To what extent do you agree or disagree that the proposed councils are the right size to be efficient, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks?
4. To what extent do you agree or disagree that the proposed councils will deliver high quality, sustainable public services?
5. To what extent do you agree or disagree that the proposal has been informed by local views and will meet local needs?
6. To what extent do you agree or disagree that establishing the councils in this proposal will support devolution arrangements, for example, the establishment of a strategic authority?
7. To what extent do you agree or disagree that the proposal enables stronger community engagement and gives the opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment?
8. If you would like to, please use the free text box to explain the answers you have provided to questions 1-7 referring to the question numbers as part of your answer. You may also use the box to provide any other comments you have on this proposal.
9. This proposal is accompanied by a request that the Secretary of State considers boundary change. To what extent do you agree or disagree that the proposal sets out a strong public services and financial sustainability justification for boundary change?
10. If you would like to, please use this free text box to explain your answer to question 9.
11. I confirm that I have not included any information that identifies an individual in the free text boxes.