Our Proposal

Suffolk’s five district and borough councils have published a bold proposal to transform local government, delivering better services, stronger local democracy, and significant annual savings.

To read the proposal, please click
Three Councils For Suffolk Case for Change.

The plan proposes replacing the current two-tier system with three new local unitary councils  (all with working, but not necessarily final names):

  • Central and Eastern Suffolk
  • Western Suffolk
  • Ipswich and Southern Suffolk

Each would deliver all local services, making it easier for residents to access support and ensuring decisions are made closer to home.

Why now? 

The Government has asked councils to propose new structures that are:

  • Clearly justified
  • Economically sensible
  • Geographically coherent

This proposal meets all three and puts one local council where you live in charge of all services.

What are the benefits?

The Government has asked councils to propose new structures that are:

  • £34m annual savings, of which £20m reinvested in services
  • Locally driven approach to social care, unlocking opportunities worth a further £67.5 million per year
  • Fairer Council Tax: equalised within each new area during 2028/29
  • Local decision-making by councillors representing ~4,000 residents each
  • Stronger communities and empowered town/parish councils
  • Tailored services that reflect Suffolk’s diversity
  • Smart collaboration across councils where it makes sense
  • A strong voice for Suffolk in the new Mayoral Combined Authority

Built on local voices:

Over 2,200 residents helped shape this proposal, with “being local” ranked as the top priority.

What’s happened so far?

In September, each Council debated the proposal for Three Councils and voted to submit the proposal to government. The proposal was submitted at the end of September 2025.

Click here to review LGR Residents’ Summary

To review Suffolk County Council’s proposal, please visit: One Suffolk 

For Babergh Full Council papers, please visit Browse meetings – Babergh Council : Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils

For East Suffolk Full Council papers, please visit CMIS > Meetings

For Ipswich Borough Full Council papers, please visit Browse meetings – Council | Democracy Online | Ipswich Borough Council

For Mid Suffolk Full Council papers, please visit Browse meetings – Babergh Council: Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils

For West Suffolk Full Council papers, please visit Browse meetings – Council

In November 2025, the Government started a consultation on the proposals for local government reorganisation in Suffolk. This consultation closed on 11 January 2026.

What’s next? 

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed that three unitary councils will be created in Suffolk replacing the current system.