North Lancashire (unitary authority area)
North Lancashire | |
|---|---|
Future unitary authority area | |
.jpeg) | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 53°45′35″N 2°41′56″W / 53.7598°N 2.6988°W | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | England |
| Region | North West |
| Ceremonial county & combined county authority | Lancashire |
| Expected establishment | 1 April 2028 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unitary authority |
| • Body | North Lancashire Council |
| Area | |
• Total | 502.5 sq mi (1,301.4 km2) |
| Population (2024 estimate) | |
• Total | 373,664 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
North Lancashire is a planned unitary authority area in north and east Lancashire, England. It is intended to be established on 1 April 2028. [1][2] Elections to the new council are expected to take place in May 2027.[3]
It will replace the current districts of Lancaster, Preston, and Ribble Valley.[4][5] The new area will border the other three new Lancashire unitary authority areas: Pennine Lancashire to the south-east, South Lancashire to the south, and Fylde Coast to the west.[5] It will border the unitary authority areas of Westmorland and Furness to the north and North Yorkshire to the east.
The north-west part of the area is on Morecambe Bay. Larger populated places in the area, from north to south, are to be; Morecambe and Lancaster in the north, Clitheroe in the south-east, and Longridge and Preston in the south.[6] The population of the new area is approximately 373,664.[5] It will include the majority of the Forest of Bowland and part of Arnside and Silverdale, both of which have been designated national landscapes,[7] while a small area in the north-east, including Leck and the summit of Gragareth, will be within the Yorkshire Dales National Park.[8]
On 19 August 2026 the leaders of three existing district councils wrote a joint letter to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government , proposing that the name for the new unitary authority area should be Lancaster, Preston & Ribble Valley.[9] The MPs for Morecambe and Lunesdale and Lancaster and Wyre opposed this suggestion.[10]
Background
North Lancashire is being created as part of a wider reorganisation of local government in England that is intended to introduce single-tier local government in fourteen areas.[11]
For local government purposes, Lancashire currently comprises a non-metropolitan county, itself divided into twelve non-metropolitan districts, and the two unitary authority areas of Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen. In Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen all local government services are provided by their respective councils, whereas in the rest of the county the provision of services is divided between Lancashire County Council and the twelve district councils.[12][13][14][15]
Local government in Lancashire will be reorganised by abolishing all of the areas and councils mentioned above and replacing them with four new unitary authority areas, the councils of which will provide all local government services.[15]
Governance
North Lancashire will be governed by North Lancashire Council, which will comprise 72 councillors.[16]
Parishes
Most of the district is part of a civil parish. Lancaster and Heysham in the north and Preston and Fulwood in the south are unparished areas. Lancaster City Council is considering the possibility of parishing Lancaster and Heysham, which would allow them to have town councils and maintain municipal continuity after 2028.[17][6] Another option for maintaining mayoralties in these areas would be charter trustees.[18]
References
- ↑ "Local government reorganisation: decision letter to Leaders in Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool" (PDF). gov.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ "Government announces Local Government Reorganisation decision for Lancashire". Lancashire County Council News. 16 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
- ↑ "Government announces Local Government Reorganisation decision for Lancashire". Lancashire County Council News. 16 July 2026. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ "Lancashire council leaders react to local government shake-up". BBC News. 16 July 2026. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 Faulkner, Paul (23 July 2026). "Name of new council for Lancaster and Morecambe approved by government". Lancaster Guardian. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey.
- ↑ "Forest of Bowland: Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty" (PDF).
- ↑ "[Map of the Yorkshire Dales National Park]" (PDF). Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
- ↑ "Proposed Name For 'North Lancashire' Unitary Authority: Lancaster, Preston & Ribble Valley". www.lancaster.gov.uk. Lancaster City Council. Retrieved 31 August 2026. Includes link to pdf of the letter sent on 19 August
- ↑ Lambert, Greg (28 August 2026). ""Feelings are running high": Battle over name for new local council escalates". Beyond Radio. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
- ↑ "14 more areas to benefit from streamlined local services". GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
- ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039
- ↑ "The English Non-Metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551
- ↑ "The Lancashire (Boroughs of Blackburn and Blackpool) (Structural Change) Order 1996". legislation.gov.uk. 18 July 1996.
- 1 2 "Understand how your council works". GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
- ↑ "Local government reorganisation: implementation letter to Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool chief executives" (PDF). Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
- ↑ McDonald, Robbie (1 April 2026). "Government shake-up could see new parish and town councils developed in Lancaster and Heysham". Lancaster Guardian.
- ↑ McGovern, Alison (23 April 2026). "Written questions and answers". UK Parliament.