The Government has given formal approval to a plan that will dissolve the county’s current arrangement of ten local authorities and replace them with two new unitary councils covering North Staffordshire and South Staffordshire.
What will change
Under the confirmed scheme, a new authority for North Staffordshire will bring together Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire Moorlands. A separate South Staffordshire authority will cover Stafford, East Staffordshire, Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Tamworth and South Staffordshire.
The new councils are planned to take over responsibility for services such as waste collection, highways, housing, planning, parks, children’s services and adult social care from April 2028. Elections for the new "shadow" councils are expected in May 2027. For the time being, residents should see no immediate change: existing councils will continue to deliver day-to-day services until the transfer date.
Reactions from local leaders
Some local authorities have welcomed the decision, saying the new boundaries reflect everyday travel and economic patterns.
"We warmly welcome the government’s decision to back the North-South proposal. It is the option that most closely reflects the reality of how people live, work and travel across our area and provides the strongest basis for future success."
This response came from Stoke-on-Trent City Council leader Jane Ashworth. Staffordshire Moorlands District Council leader Mike Gledhill described the new North Staffordshire authority as "not a merger with Stoke-on-Trent", calling it "a new start for the three councils" and suggesting it could bring opportunities for transport, jobs and investment.
Not all councils are in favour. Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has argued it should remain independent and said many local people oppose the change. Its leader, Councillor Jonathan Gullis, said:
"This is a shameful betrayal of Newcastle-under-Lyme and the people who call our Borough home."
The council has pointed to a petition signed by more than 11,000 residents opposing the proposals.
What this means locally
- Two new unitary authorities will replace the current two-tier and district arrangements across Staffordshire.
- Services including adult social care and childrens’ services will transfer to the new councils from April 2028.
- Shadow authority elections are scheduled for May 2027; no immediate disruption to services is expected.
The decision ends a period of consultation and competing models for local government in the county. Councils who back the plan say it will align decision-making with how residents travel and work across the county; opponents argue that the move removes locally accountable government for some communities.
| New authority | Constituent councils |
|---|---|
| North Staffordshire | Stoke-on-Trent; Newcastle-under-Lyme; Staffordshire Moorlands |
| South Staffordshire | Stafford; East Staffordshire; Cannock Chase; Lichfield; Tamworth; South Staffordshire |
Staffordshire residents and organisations will be watching the implementation timetable closely over the coming months, particularly work on transition arrangements for schools, social care, housing and highways. Further details about the composition of the shadow authorities, transition staffing and budgets are expected as councils and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities progress the handover.
