What's happened so far:
- 5 February 2025 – statutory invitation received from government to submit unitary proposals
- 21 March 2025 – submitted interim local government reorganisation proposal
- 28 November 2025 – submitted full local government reorganisation proposal
What comes next:
- 5 February - 26 March - government consultation on all proposals
- Summer 2026 – government expected to make a decision on which proposals to take forward
- April to May 2027 – possible date for elections for shadow authorities
- April 2028 – vesting day for new unitary councils (when they would officially become an authority)