18
REGIONAL FOCUS
ARE YOU READY
FOR LANCASHIRE’S BIGGEST BUSINESS CELEBRATION?
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
19 JANUARY 2026 Awards ceremony:
Thursday 12 March 2026, Winter Gardens Blackpool
redroseawards.co.uk @redroseawards
#RRA26
PLAYING THE NUMBERS GAME
The map has been redrawn several times and the arguments have been made. Now it is down to central government to decide the shape of Lancashire’s town hall landscape.
The government’s drive to streamline local government aims to replace two-tier council structures with fewer, larger unitary authorities, each serving around 500,000 people, by April 2028. Lancashire’s local government reorganisation proposals sent to Whitehall at the end of November by the current 15 councils range from two to five unitary local authorities.
The five plans reflect the lack of unity that has been witnessed in Lancashire when it comes to carving up the county. Lancashire County Council is proposing just two new authorities – North and South – while the five-council model has been put forward by Burnley and Pendle.
Fylde, Hyndburn and Wyre back a three-council solution – Coastal, Pendle and Central Lancashire. Three is also the version backed by Blackburn with Darwen and Rossendale. There are two versions of the four unitary proposal – both dividing Lancashire into North, West, South and East, but with different boundary lines.
Chorley, Lancaster, Preston, Ribble Valley, South Ribble and West Lancashire support the first option with Blackpool opting for the alternative map. Arguments supporting all the different options have now been sent to central government. Business has also had its say.
The North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce (NWLCC) has urged the government to approve three unitary authorities for the county – saying it is what business wants and needs. Babs Murphy, its chief executive, summed up the views of the business community. She said: “The county requires clarity, accountability and an efficient local government structure which will strengthen our competitiveness.”
A decision is not likely any time soon. The process is set to continue into 2028 and possibly beyond that. It is expected that elections to new shadow authorities will take place in 2027 with the transition to the new structure a year later.
However, the county council is reported to have requested LGR is delayed until 2029 or 2030. And as for the prospect of an elected mayor for Lancashire under devolution – that is another story that hasn’t yet got a map.
SOUTH TWO UNITARY MODEL NORTH
A model for Lancashire which will see the region split into two unitary authorities:
North: Blackpool, Fylde, Lancaster, Wyre, Preston and Ribble Valley
South: Chorley, South Ribble, West Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Rossendale and Pendle
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