The government has confirmed that the seven existing councils serving Oxfordshire and West Berkshire will be replaced by three unitary authorities from 1 April 2028, following plans submitted by local councils earlier this year.
What the new map will look like
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government selected the three-council option from three proposals put forward in November 2025. The new authorities are:
- Greater Oxford Council – covering Oxford and its immediate surroundings.
- Northern Oxfordshire Council – covering most of the existing Cherwell and West Oxfordshire districts.
- Ridgeway Council – covering most of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse, combined with West Berkshire.
Existing county, district and city councils will begin winding down their current structures. Elections for councillors to the new authorities are expected next May; those councillors will form "shadow authorities" to manage the transition until the new units assume full responsibility in 2028.
Reaction from county leadership
"I am deeply disappointed in the government's decision to split Oxfordshire up into three unitary councils – it does not deliver on its vision to simplify and improve local government services,"
Those words came from Councillor Tim Bearder, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, who warned the three-council model would not meet government criteria for scale, efficiency or financial resilience. He said the change could increase costs by requiring multiple senior directors for key services and risk disruption to high-performing social care provision.
What residents can expect
Officials say services should continue without disruption during the transition and that existing planning to prepare for reorganisation has been under way since the start of the year, irrespective of which option the government chose. Nonetheless, practical changes will follow as responsibilities for highways, adult and children's social care, housing and waste move from the current mix of county and district councils to the three new unitaries.
| New council | Area covered |
|---|---|
| Greater Oxford Council | Oxford and immediate surroundings |
| Northern Oxfordshire Council | Most of Cherwell and West Oxfordshire |
| Ridgeway Council | Most of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse, plus West Berkshire |
Local residents should expect communications from their existing councils over the coming months about changes to contact points, service delivery and election arrangements. Parish and town councils are unaffected by the reorganisation, but district and county bodies will need to coordinate closely to ensure continuity of care and statutory services as staffing and budgets are reorganised.
The decision marks a substantial reshaping of local government across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire and sets a timetable for elections, the establishment of shadow authorities and the legal winding down of seven existing councils ahead of the April 2028 handover.
