The government has approved a plan to replace Warwickshire's current two-tier local government system with two new unitary authorities, to be known as Warwickshire North and Warwickshire South. The decision marks a significant reorganisation of council services across the county and sets a timetable for the establishment of the new authorities and associated elections.
Which areas will each new council cover?
Under the confirmed arrangements, the north of the county will be served by Warwickshire North, while the south will fall under Warwickshire South. The distribution of districts is as follows:
| Unitary | Included districts |
|---|---|
| Warwickshire North | Nuneaton and Bedworth, North Warwickshire, Rugby |
| Warwickshire South | Stratford-on-Avon, Warwick |
Councils respond and next steps
All six district and borough councils in the county have issued a joint statement noting the government's decision and committing to co-operation as the changes are implemented. The councils emphasised a shared aim of maintaining services for residents and ensuring a smooth transition.
"We note the government's decision to create two unitary councils for Warwickshire... Our shared priority is to make sure residents, businesses and communities continue to receive the services they rely on, and that the move to the new councils is managed carefully and in the best interests of Warwickshire."
The joint statement also acknowledged that local authorities in Warwickshire previously expressed differing views on the optimal structure, with Rugby borough supporting a single, county-wide unitary council rather than the two-unitary model now chosen by government.
What residents should expect
Practical consequences of the reorganisation will include:
- Creation of new council administrations responsible for delivering local services within each unitary area.
- Preparations for elections to choose councillors for the two new authorities.
- Co-ordination between existing councils, central government and partner organisations to transfer staff, budgets and service responsibilities.
The councils said there is "important work to do" to implement the changes and that they would engage with government, staff and councillors to shape how services will operate under the new structures. Further technical details, transitional governance arrangements and election timetables are expected to be released as the process moves forward.
For residents, the immediate effect will be limited: current services should continue while formal transition plans are developed. However, the decision signals a substantial shift in how local government in Warwickshire will be organised and delivered in the years ahead.
