Unitary Authority Reform in Practice: What does it mean for project delivery and local authority engagement?
As outlined in the December 2024 English Devolution White Paper, the UK Government is ushering in “the biggest transfer of power out of Westminster to England’s regions this century” transforming England’s local authority systems through the de-facto abolition of district councils into new unitary authorities [1].
In the second article in a series on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, Alpaca Communications explores what this reorganisation will mean in practice; particularly for those navigating infrastructure planning and delivery at a local level.
A move to single decision-making
Local government reform will centralise decision-making under a single unitary authority. Instead of navigating separate county and district councils with different priorities, developers will now have to work with one body. This replaces a fragmented system with a streamlined council more accountable for the needs of each place. In essence, one council per area will handle all local government services, replacing the patchwork of multiple smaller district authorities.
This reform represents a significant decentralisation of power: with new powers for unitary authorities and potentially removing unnecessary layers of bureaucracy. As the White Paper explains, “unitary councils can lead to better outcomes for residents, save significant money which can be reinvested in public services, and improve accountability with fewer politicians who are more able to focus on delivering for residents” [2].
This has immediate operational benefits:
· Reduced administrative complexity: Fewer meetings, fewer conflicting plans, and more streamlined engagement.
· Greater clarity on strategic priorities: With a single authority responsible for local plans and policies, there is significantly reduced risk of conflict between different tiers of local government.
· Lower operating costs: Forming appropriately sized unitary councils strengthens capacity and will deliver savings that can be reinvested into public services.
· Faster delivery timelines: Simplified processes could lead to swifter approvals, particularly for cross-boundary or major schemes that previously required coordination across multiple councils.
This reform will position councils closer to understanding local needs and give them more power to deliver on them.
Strategic Authorities and a Recast Planning Geography
Alongside the creation of new unitary councils, the Government’s reforms introduce Strategic Authorities; mayor-led bodies operating across wider functional economic areas. It is important to distinguish between the two.
A unitary authority is a single-tier local council responsible for all local government functions within its area (planning, housing, transport, social care and other services), replacing the former two-tier system of county and district councils.
A Strategic Authority, by contrast, sits above constituent local authorities and focuses on region-wide policy and coordination rather than day-to-day service delivery. As set out in the December 2024 English Devolution White Paper and associated draft legislation, these authorities will prepare strategic spatial development strategies, coordinate major transport and infrastructure planning, and align economic growth and employment priorities across their geography [3].
Importantly, the Government has now launched a consultation on the proposed areas that will be responsible for producing Spatial Development Strategies, signalling that the recasting of planning geography is moving from policy intent to implementation. This consultation seeks views on how Strategic Authority boundaries should be defined for the purposes of strategic spatial planning, and marks a significant step in formalising the regional tier of plan-making that will shape land allocation, infrastructure corridors and growth priorities across England [4].
In practice, newly created unitary authorities (typically serving populations of around 500,000 or more) will act as the constituent authorities within these Strategic Authorities. The strategic tier will set the overarching spatial and economic framework, while unitary councils will retain responsibility for local plans, development management and implementation [5].
This distinction is important. The abolition of district councils removes duplication within the local tier of governance, streamlining decision-making into a single accountable authority. At the same time, the introduction of a strategic tier is designed not to add bureaucracy, but to address cross-boundary challenges, such as transport connectivity, housing distribution, infrastructure investment and labour markets, that individual districts previously struggled to coordinate effectively.
Rather than layering complexity, the reforms aim to clarify roles:
· Strategic Authorities set the regional direction and investment priorities.
· Unitary Authorities deliver locally within that agreed framework.
When aligned effectively, this model can provide both strategic coherence and delivery capacity.
What this means in practice:
· Planning influence is shifting upward. Developers accustomed to working primarily with local planning officers will now need to consider strategic spatial frameworks influencing land allocation, infrastructure corridors and investment priorities.
· Greater coherence across policy areas. Strategic Authorities can align transport, housing, climate and economic strategy at a functional economic geography level, while unitary authorities coordinate these themes within a single delivery body replacing previously fragmented county/district responsibilities.
· Stronger strategic partnerships. Larger unitary authorities, operating within clear regional frameworks, can act as credible delivery partners for complex sites, development corporations, housing zones or investment vehicles.
· Reduced duplication at the local tier. The removal of district councils simplifies engagement and accountability, while strategic oversight reduces the risk of uncoordinated cross-boundary growth.
A New Type of Engagement in Planning and Development Decision-Making
One sector poised for significant improvement under unitary authority reform is planning and development. Currently, in two-tier areas, planning responsibilities are split. District councils handle most local planning applications and local plans, while county councils oversee broader issues like transport planning, major roads, and minerals and waste policy.
The new unitary councils will be better positioned to coordinate housing, infrastructure, and economic development. They can create single local plans across the whole area, rather than multiple conflicting plans. The White Paper explicitly notes “knock-on benefits for strategic planning decisions” resulting from unitary reform [6]. With bigger councils, planning decisions can consider wider impacts beyond a small district’s boundaries, and projects of regional significance can be managed more coherently.
This restructuring demands a redefined engagement strategy from those in planning and development:
Early engagement with unitary authorities’ leadership and policy teams will be critical, especially where new spatial frameworks or investment zones are being developed.
Understanding the role of elected mayors and regional strategies will help frame major proposals within the right policy context.
Shifting consultation expectations: Larger unitary councils may consolidate planning teams, develop in-house expertise, or introduce new panels and forums for stakeholder input. Developers should stay attuned to these emerging formats.
What Next?
The reforms aren’t just about simplification; they signal a broader ambition for local government to act as strategic growth partners. The draft legislation is clear in its intent to reset the relationship between central and local government and between councils and their communities.
Understanding policy and spatial strategy development will be key for ensuring continuity and confidence in the planning system. But the direction is clear: England’s development landscape will be reshaped by fewer, but stronger, local authorities. Ultimately, these reforms will be pivotal in delivering the next decade of growth in England and Wales.