Skip to content

Government review concludes: Oxfordshire and West Berkshire to get three new unitary councils

Published 29 October 2026

The government has announced the outcome of its review into local government reorganisation (LGR).

It has made a new minded-to decision to replace the seven existing councils in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire with three new unitary councils.

Government has said it is minded-to proceed with decisions in five areas, including ours, but this will be open to further representation and views from council leaders and MPs for approximately three weeks. Following this, an update will be made to parliament on these decisions before Christmas.

The five areas are East-Sussex and Brighton and Hove, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

In Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, the three new councils will be:

  • Greater Oxford Council – covering Oxford and its immediate surroundings.
  • North Oxfordshire Council – covering most of the existing Cherwell and West Oxfordshire districts.
  • Ridgeway Council – covering most of the existing South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts, combined with West Berkshire.

The new councils are due to go live on 1 April 2029, with elections to the new shadow authorities taking place in May 2028.

Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “I remain disappointed that the Government has decided to proceed with a model that carves up South Oxfordshire, drawing rural villages into Greater Oxford despite their much stronger economic, social and geographical ties to our rural district. It is difficult to understand the rationale for boundaries that appear to be driven more by the City Council’s ambitions for expansion than by genuine understanding of place, local identity and the needs of communities affected.

“However, I welcome the fact that we finally have some clarity on the timetable for local government reform. The prolonged uncertainty has helped nobody. My priority remains securing the best possible future for all our residents and businesses, both those who will form part of the new Ridgeway council and those who are currently proposed to move into Greater Oxford. We will work constructively, while continuing to ensure the delivery of local services and infrastructure which reflects the priorities of our communities.

“Importantly, I welcome government’s decision to include fewer South Oxfordshire villages in the greater Oxfordshire unitary council – Nuneham Courtenay, Culham, Clifton Hampden, Marsh Baldon, Great Milton, Wheatley, Waterstock and Holton will now be in the Ridgeway Council area instead of Greater Oxford.  I also welcome that the government and also that it has indicated that there will be an opportunity to make representations and refine the proposals. We will carefully consider how best to use this opportunity, taking an evidence-based approach to ensure that adjustments better reflect the needs and identities of our towns and villages”

In September, the government put local government reorganisation on hold while it reviewed its proposals for new councils across England.

Elections for the new unitaries will take place in May 2028, after which shadow authorities will be created to plan the new councils, but will not deliver services.

On 1 April 2029, the seven existing councils in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire will end and the three new unitary councils will be created. Serving councillors’ terms of office will continue until the existing councils come to an end on vesting day.

The district and unitary council elections in South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, West Oxfordshire, Cherwell and West Berkshire will go ahead in May 2027 on the existing council boundaries.

Find out which new council will serve your community and what this means for your area: 3councils.org