05/02/2026
The government has launched its formal consultation on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Staffordshire, it was originally indicated this was to happen in May 2026.
This statutory consultation seeks views on the proposals that the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has received from Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent’s principal councils.
The proposals are:
Cannock Chase District Council, East Staffordshire Borough Council, Stafford Borough Council, Stoke on Trent City Council proposed 2 unitary councils. These would comprise the current areas of:
• North Staffordshire: Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire Moorlands, and Stoke on Trent
• South Staffordshire: Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, South Staffordshire, Stafford, and Tamworth
Staffordshire County Council proposed 2 unitary councils. These would comprise the current areas of:
• East Staffordshire: East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Staffordshire Moorlands, Stoke-on-Trent, and Tamworth
• West Staffordshire: Cannock Chase, Newcastle-under-Lyme, South Staffordshire, and Stafford
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council proposed 2 unitary councils: This includes a request to split existing district council areas between the proposed new councils. These would comprise the district areas of:
• North Staffordshire: Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Moorlands, plus 16 parishes from East Staffordshire and 6 from Stafford
• Southern and Mid-Staffordshire: Cannock Chase, Lichfield, South Staffordshire, Tamworth, and the remaining 22 parishes of East Staffordshire, and 34 of Stafford
Lichfield District Council, South Staffordshire Borough Council, Tamworth Borough Council proposed 3 unitary councils. These would comprise the current areas of:
• North Staffordshire: Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire Moorlands, and Stoke-on-Trent
• South-West Staffordshire: Cannock Chase, South Staffordshire, and Stafford
• South-East Staffordshire: Lichfield, East Staffordshire, and Tamworth
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council proposed 4 unitary councils. These would comprise the current areas of:
• Unitary Authority 1: Newcastle-under-Lyme
• Unitary Authority 2: Cannock Chase, South Staffordshire, and Stafford
• Unitary Authority 3: Staffordshire Moorlands, and Stoke-on-Trent
• Unitary Authority 4: East Staffordshire, Lichfield and Tamworth.
This consultation asks you questions about each proposal. This consultation will last for 7 weeks and closes at 23:59 on 26th March 2026.
We are encouraging every local council to submit a formal response to the consultation, as well as share the consultation with your residents and encourage them to take part. Councillors/clerks can also respond individually.
The link to the online survey is here - https://consult.communities.gov.uk/local-government-reorganisation/staffordshire-and-stoke-on-trent/
Full details of the consultation and how to respond in writing can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-government-reorganisation-in-staffordshire-and-stoke-on-trent/proposals-for-local-government-reorganisation-in-staffordshire-and-stoke-on-trent
Finally, NALC has published a new online resource showcasing practical case studies on devolution from parish and town councils. You may find this useful, it is available here - https://www.nalc.gov.uk/resource/nalc-publishes-new-devolution-case-studies-resource-for-parish-and-town-councils.html.
