Proposals for local government reorganisation in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire

Background

In December 2024, the government published its English Devolution White Paper December 2024, on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in the UK. This is the process of replacing two-tier councils (county and district, as in Oxfordshire) with single-tier "unitary" authorities to improve efficiency and simplify services. This shift aims to reduce duplication, save costs, and create clearer accountability by having one council manage all local services. The government has also indicated that all unitary authorities will need to serve around 500,000 residents or more. This means that West Berkshire Council, which serves around 170,000 people, will have to merge with neighbouring councils.

In June 2025 we consulted on a proposal for two new unitary councils where West Berkshire Council would join with South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse to form a unitary authority called Ridgeway Council, and Cherwell, Oxford City and West Oxfordshire councils would join together to form Oxford and Shires Council. You can find details of the consultation here.

These proposals were submitted to the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on 28 November 2025. In February 2026, a written ministerial statement was made to Parliament about the statutory consultations on proposals for unitary local government made by councils in 14 areas, one of which is Oxfordshire.

How to take part

The MHCLG is asking for your views on the unitary local government for Oxfordshire to help inform its assessment of the proposals. The three proposals are as follows: 

• Oxfordshire County Council proposed one unitary council: comprised of Oxfordshire: Cherwell, Oxford City, Oxfordshire County, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, and West Oxfordshire
• Cherwell District Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, West Oxfordshire District Council proposed two unitary councils:

1. Oxford and Shires Council: comprised of Cherwell, Oxford City and West Oxfordshire
2. Ridgeway Council: comprised of South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, plus West Berkshire (outside of invitation area)

• Oxford City Council proposed three unitary councils: this includes a request to split existing district council areas between the proposed new councils:

1. Greater Oxford Council: comprised of Oxford City (includes a boundary change)
2. Northern Oxfordshire Council: comprised of most of Cherwell and West Oxfordshire
3. Ridgeway Council: comprised of South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, and West Berkshire (outside of invitation area)

 You can find more information, and take part in the consultation on the MHCLG website here.

All representations must be received by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) by 23.59 on Thursday, 26 March 2026. 

For any enquiries about the consultation, please email lgrconsultation@communities.gov.uk

What happens next

This consultation will inform an assessment by the Secretary of State of the merits of the proposals.

All proposals received from councils will be considered carefully, alongside all consultation responses and any other relevant information, before a decision is taken on how to proceed, including whether or not to implement a proposal, with or without modification. In deciding which proposal, if any, to implement in an area, subject to Parliamentary approval, the Secretary of State will assess the proposals against the criteria set out in the statutory guidance accompanying the invitation, as well as having regard to all representations received, including responses to this consultation, and to all other relevant information available.

The Secretary of State may decide, subject to Parliamentary approval, to implement a proposal with or without modification, or to not implement any proposal for an area, and may also seek advice from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

If any proposals are to be implemented, we would expect new unitary councils to take on full council roles from April 2028, with transitional arrangements in 2027-28 to support a smooth implementation.

The final decisions will be communicated to the councils as soon as practicable.