The Government will ultimately decide what new unitary councils to create, but has asked local councils to explore options and engage with local people.

Joint engagement in summer 2025

The seven Cambridgeshire councils ran an initial joint survey in June and July 2025 asking residents for general feedback about local government and their future priorities. There are three reports that were produced following this survey, which outlines details of what people said during the engagement.

A report into the public survey. [PDF, 7.5MB]

A report into the stakeholder survey. [PDF, 0.3MB]

A report into the focus groups that took place. [PDF, 0.3MB]

The proposed options

Also in June 2025, the seven councils announced three proposed options for possible new unitary councils across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. 

The three options (Options A to C) each contain two new unitary councils that would in future cover the entire Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area and replace all existing local authorities. These are options that appear to be the most financially viable based on the government’s criteria, and are based on existing authority boundaries.

Since summer 2025, a fourth Greater Peterborough option (Option D) has also been put forward by Peterborough City Council and Huntingdonshire District Council has announced it will develop a business case (Option E) for a standalone unitary authority. 

Joint survey with Cambridge City Council

During September and October 2025, we asked whether you support a new unitary council for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire. That survey has now closed and there is a summary of results.

At Cambridge City Council’s Full Council meeting on Thursday 24 July, Councillors passed a motion outlining how a unitary authority based on the current boundaries of Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, alongside viable arrangements for the rest of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, is likely to be the best option for the residents of Cambridge. The most recent report on local government reorganisation discussed by South Cambridgeshire District Councillors was debated at a Full Council meeting on Thursday 17 July 2025. At that meeting, the Leader, Cllr Bridget Smith told District Councillors that her administration would be promoting a new unitary council covering Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire. Meanwhile, this summer the two leaders wrote an open letter on this topic.

Next steps

The councils must submit their preferred proposals to Government before the end of November 2025. 

Cambridgeshire County Council is leading on the proposal for option A; Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council are working with all other councils on Option B; and Huntingdonshire District Council is leading on the proposal for Option C. 

Once the councils have submitted their proposals, there will then be further consultation, before Government ultimately makes a final decision.

New councils are expected to operate in a shadow capacity from May 2027 before full implementation in April 2028, known as ‘vesting day’.