Government withdraws Leicester city boundary expansion plan

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 29 Oct, 14:53 · Archive

The government has withdrawn plans to expand Leicester's city boundary into surrounding Leicestershire.

The government has withdrawn plans that would have expanded Leicester's city boundary into parts of Leicestershire and abolished ten existing councils in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The proposals would have been replaced with two larger unitary authorities. The decision, originally announced in July, proved highly contentious and led many councils across Leicestershire to file for judicial review. In September, Secretary of State Angela Rayner announced the government was pausing and reviewing the plans.

Local government minister Jim McMahon confirmed that decisions for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, alongside Nottinghamshire and Nottingham, and Derby and Derbyshire, have been withdrawn and will be reconsidered. He said the government remains committed to local government reorganisation but had listened to local political leaders. A new proposal will be announced either before Christmas or early in 2027.

Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said he was very disappointed at the delay, noting that the uncertainty would make it difficult to proceed with work needed to create a mayoral strategic authority. The government's own consultation on the changes showed 87 per cent of some 6,600 responses opposed city expansion.

How it is being reported

• 'The fight is not over': MP's reaction as Government withdraws plans to shake up Leicestershire councilsAlberto Costa MP has vowed to carry on campaigning against the expansion of Leicester city and the reorganisation of the councils after the Government announced it had withdrawn its July decision to shake up the county boundary.Harborough Mail · 29 Oct, 16:08
• 'Frustration' for leaders as major Leicester boundary expansion plan put on holdMany have welcomed the announcement but some say the 'fight is not over'Leicestershire Live · 29 Oct, 15:51
• Government withdraws plans for city expansionMinisters say they will look again at proposals to redraw Leicestershire's political map.BBC Leicester · 29 Oct, 14:18
• Major update in controversial Leicester city expansion as plan is withdrawnParts of Leicestershire had been set to be swallowed up by a bigger city boundaryLeicestershire Live · 29 Oct, 13:18

In this story: Leicester · Leicestershire · Angela Rayner · Jim McMahon · Peter Soulsby · Rutland

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