Government Consultation on Worcestershire Councils Launched

Residents, stakeholders and businesses in Redditch are being invited to share their views on how councils across Worcestershire should be organised in the future.

The Government has today (5 February) launched a consultation asking people, businesses and local organisations for their opinions on two proposals that will reshape the way council services are delivered across the county.

The two proposals were submitted in November 2025 following an invitation from Government to set out ideas for how services currently delivered separately by the County Council and district authorities could instead be provided by one or more unitary councils.

One of the plans – Transforming Worcestershire – backed by Redditch Borough, Bromsgrove District, Malvern Hills District, Worcester City and Wychavon District councils, is to create two unitary councils.

Under this model, one authority would serve the north of the county - Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest - while another would cover the south including Worcester City, Malvern Hills and Wychavon.

Key priorities for this proposal include shifting services from crisis response to prevention, empowering communities by keeping decision-making local, and driving long-term financial sustainability.

Redditch Borough Council Leader Cllr Sharon Harvey said: “Local Government Reorganisation is the most important thing which has happened in local government in more than 50 years.

“Reorganisation is the only way to overhaul an inefficient, outdated and costly two-tier system which exists in Worcestershire.

“The ambition is to deliver a strong future with better outcomes for our residents and we believe the Transforming Worcestershire proposal does this.

“We have already listened to our residents who told us that they preferred a unitary Council for the North and one for the South - and this is the option we have submitted to the Minister.

“It is important that we get it right so please take this opportunity share your opinions to further help the Government make the right decision for Redditch, our communities and each other.”

An alternative proposal for a single unitary council for Worcestershire has also been submitted by Worcestershire County Council and Wyre Forest District Council. ‘One Worcestershire’ would bring all services under one authority, replacing the county and district councils.

Government is set to announce its final decision on Local Government Reorganisation in July this year. Elections for a new shadow council – or councils – would then take place in May 2027, ready for the new arrangements to come into effect on 1 April 2028.

The consultation is set to run until March 26. Paper copies of both proposals and the consultation are available at the libraries in Redditch and Woodrow where staff will also help you to access these online.

You can view both documents, at www.transformingworcestershire.co.uk and the Government consultation is here Local government reorganisation in Worcestershire - GOV.UK