Local Government Reorganisation in Warwickshire Paused by Government

The Government has announced that plans for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Warwickshire are being paused while they are reviewed.

The announcement follows the Government’s decision to review LGR proposals in a number of areas after receiving updated legal advice. The review will consider whether the proposed reorganisations are legally robust and aligned with the Government’s priorities.

Importantly for Warwickshire, the Government has confirmed that its review includes decisions on Local Government Reorganisation made in July. This means the decision announced on 16 July to establish two new unitary councils in Warwickshire is now subject to the review.

Under the July decision, a new North Warwickshire Council would cover North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth, and Rugby Borough, while a new South Warwickshire Council would cover Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon.

The proposed new councils had been expected to come into effect from April 2028, subject to the necessary Parliamentary process.

The Government’s latest announcement means the Warwickshire proposals are currently paused while the review takes place. It does not, at this stage, mean that the proposals have been permanently cancelled.

The Government has also confirmed that local elections in May 2027 will go ahead on the existing council boundaries while the review is undertaken.

Dunchurch Parish Council has previously raised concerns about the proposed reorganisation. At an extraordinary meeting on 12 August 2026, councillors discussed the Government’s decision and the potential implications for Dunchurch, subsequently agreeing to write to the Secretary of State and the local MP setting out their concerns.

The Parish Council will continue to monitor developments and will provide further updates as more information becomes available.