New North Staffordshire Unitary Authority Announced

On 16 July 2026, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed OBE MP, wrote to the leaders of councils in Derbyshire, Devon, East Sussex, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire & Worcestershire. This much-anticipated letter reveals his decision on how local government reorganisation (LGR) would be implemented in these areas.

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are to be split as follows:

• Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, and Stoke-on-Trent City Council (referred to in the proposal as ‘North Staffordshire’)

• Cannock Chase District Council, East Staffordshire Borough Council, Lichfield District Council, South Staffordshire Council, Stafford Borough Council, and Tamworth Borough Council (referred to in the proposals as ‘Southern and MidStaffordshire’)

The Secretary of State, Steve Reed, said to the Staffordshire Councils in his letter, "I have considered your proposals carefully against the criteria set out in the invitation letter of 5 February last year, alongside the responses to the consultation, representations made, requests for modifications made alongside the proposals and all other relevant information. Following this assessment, I have decided to move forward with implementation of the two unitary proposal submitted by East Staffordshire Borough Council, Stafford Borough Council, and Cannock Chase District Council, and also by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

You can read the full letter here:

Local_government_reorganisation_-_decision_letter_to_Staffordshire_and_Stoke-on-Trent_coun.

Download • 181KB

These letters were accompanied by 2 pieces of guidance:

• supporting adult social care, public health and children’s services

• guidance on sector support

Devolution must be built on strong local councils that can deliver good public services, support growth, and remain closely connected to the communities they serve. - RT HON STEVE REED OBE MP Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

New North Staffordshire Unitary Authority Announced - created 17th July 2026