Plans to dramatically reshape Nottinghamshire and expand the city are set to be paused by the Government.
Nottinghamshire had been heading for its largest boundary shake-up in 50 years following the Labour Government’s announcement in December 2024 for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
However that plan is now set to be paused by officials following new legal advice.
LGR had meant that by 2028, places like Nottinghamshire would have their multiple councils re-shaped and merged to create new unitary authorities, abolishing the two-tier local government structure in some areas, which sees council services split between lower and upper-tier authorities.
In July 2026, the government confirmed its decision for Nottinghamshire, where sections of Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe would be merged with Nottingham to form one unitary and a second unitary authority would cover the rest of the county.
Labour’s shake-up plans have been shrouded in criticism since they were first announced, with concerns the LGR process was being ‘rushed’ through and for potential service impacts, local representation and the public consultation itself.
Three of Nottinghamshire’s councils have even floated a judicial review attempt on the LGR decision, which involves a judge reviewing the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public body. This can only be launched to challenge the way a decision was made, rather than the rights and wrongs of a decision.
Rushcliffe Borough Council, in a joint effort with Broxtowe Borough Council, previously appointed a lawyer to assess whether a judicial review on the decision had a “potential to succeed” – the lawyer ultimately concluded that an application for review was more likely to fail than to succeed.
In late August, the Reform-led Nottinghamshire County Council wrote to the government to seek clarification on the basis for its LGR decision for the county, issuing a ‘Pre-Action Protocol’ letter – this is a procedural step that can iron out any problems before considering further legal proceedings.
However, it appears the wider shake-up of English councils will likely be paused – including for Nottinghamshire – with some areas even having their decisions withdrawn, after new legal advice.
It is understood 14 areas, including Nottinghamshire, will have their decisions paused after legal advice has suggested the decisions be reviewed.
It is also understood the government will say the local elections in May 2027 will go ahead on existing council boundaries.
The potential move comes after new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, told parliament last week he was ‘prepared to look at local government reorganisation’.
At least eight councils have launched, or were considering launching, legal challenges over their LGR decisions, opposing the government’s choice of boundaries for the new unitary authorities.
The 14 areas where LGR could be paused while a review is carried out are:
- Derby and Derbyshire
- Devon, Plymouth and Torbay
- East Sussex and Brighton
- Gloucestershire
- Hertfordshire
- Kent and Medway
- Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool
- Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
- Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire
- Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire and West Berkshire
- Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
- Warwickshire
Plans for LGR in Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk have been withdrawn following new legal advice.
Decisions for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and West Sussex, have not yet been made, with these areas being considered alongside the wider review.
Communities Secretary, Angela Rayner, is expected to inform Parliament later on Monday (September 7) on its decision to pause the process.
