Plans announced by ministers will see Lancashire’s current two-tier local government structure dismantled and replaced by four single-tier unitary authorities from April 2028. One of those new bodies, provisionally called North Lancashire, will bring together the city of Preston with Lancaster and Ribble Valley.
Leader: merger makes “the most sense”
Preston City Council leader Matthew Brown said the configuration that binds Preston, Lancaster and Ribble Valley was “by far the best fit” for the city from the set of options put forward by local authorities during the government-led review.
"We've got the two universities [the University of Lancashire and the University of Lancaster], which collaborate with each other, we have rural communities across all three areas and we've also got British Aerospace within [the Ribble Valley part of] the new council’s boundary - and that’s a major employer for people in Preston." — Matthew Brown
Cllr Brown highlighted existing links between the areas, citing higher education collaboration and shared rural communities as reasons the grouping was logical. He also referenced employers and cultural projects within the new boundary such as the Eden Project North in Morecambe and arts venues including the Dukes Theatre.
What changes and what stays the same
The announcement means Lancashire’s current 15 main councils will be abolished and responsibilities transferred to the four new unitary councils. Councils that supported the option bringing Preston, Lancaster and Ribble Valley together had formally backed that configuration during the consultation process.
- New unitary councils take on all local government functions currently split between county and district councils.
- The change is scheduled to take effect in April 2028.
- Local leaders have argued the new boundaries reflect economic and community links across the proposed areas.
The government has yet to confirm final names and detailed governance arrangements for each new authority. For residents, the coming changes are likely to affect how council services are organised and delivered, council tax administration and local political representation.
| Current councils | Proposed unitary |
|---|---|
| Preston, Lancaster, Ribble Valley | North Lancashire (provisional) |
Further detail on the precise boundaries, transition timetables and the makeup of replacement councils is expected as ministers and local authorities move towards implementation over the next two years.
