Our proposals

In November 2025, leaders of seven of Derbyshire’s district and borough councils, together with the Leader of Derby City Council, officially submitted their local government reorganisation proposals to the Government to create two new unitary councils to deliver all services to local people in the future. 

The ‘One Derbyshire, Two Councils’ plan proposes to reduce the number of local authorities covering Derbyshire from 10 to two, with one covering the north of the county, and one covering the south.

The final 'case for change' document details the Leaders’ collective vision ‘for Derbyshire to be a place where people proudly work, live, belong and thrive’ and how creating two new unitary councils would:

• Keep councils connected to local people – big enough to deliver but close enough to listen and respond to local needs.
• Better enable the provision of effective and value for money services – councils with the ambition and financial stability to transform the services residents receive, especially those relating to adult care, children’s services, SEND and homelessness.
• Preserve local identity and protect Derbyshire’s historic boundaries, cultural heritage and environmental assets.
• Meet the Government’s criteria for unitary local government – with the two councils each serving populations of around 500,000 people.
• Support the Mayor of the East Midlands and East Midlands Combined County Authority to grow an inclusive economy, reform public services and secure better outcomes for the region’s communities.

Business case – Case for Change 

Proposals 

The four proposals under ‘One Derbyshire, Two councils’ plan

The ‘One Derbyshire, Two Councils’ plan includes four separate proposals differentiated on the basis of where the boundary line between the northern and southern unitary councils could be drawn.