Devon County Council

Our proposal is to create a new Devon Unitary Council, replacing the existing county and district councils with a single, democratically accountable body serving a population of 842,000.

The new Devon Unitary Council will operate alongside the existing unitary authorities of Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council, maintaining close working relationships where shared challenges and opportunities exist.

Together, the three councils will collaborate on strategic issues such as transport, skills, housing and economic development, while respecting distinct local accountabilities. They will also work jointly to establish a mayoral combined authority for the area and coordinate on matters including engagement with the Integrated Care Board, workforce recruitment and retention, and the Plymouth Defence Deal.

Our proposal delivers for the whole area and will:

  • create a Devon Unitary Council delivering all local government services through a single, accountable organisation, working closely with the current unitary councils in Plymouth and Torbay

  • devolve powers, functions and budgets to communities through 16 Neighbourhood Area Committees, enabling local decision‑making and priority setting

  • provide a clear, unified platform for devolution via the proposed strategic authority and mayoral combined authority for the area

  • achieve long-term financial sustainability through efficiency and transformation, while maintaining high‑quality services

  • promote the Devon brand and present a united voice to support investment, trade, creative industries, tourism and economic growth

  • accelerate housing delivery, secure solutions for homelessness and implement the ambitious agenda set out in the nationally recognised Devon Housing Commission study

  • offer easier and simpler access to care and support at the right time and in the right place

  • establish a pathway to delivering outstanding children’s and adult services for the most vulnerable

  • enable deeper integration with the NHS, fire and rescue, and police services to achieve better outcomes at both regional and local levels, working in partnership with the VCSE sector

  • focus on early intervention and whole‑population health, bringing together employment, health, housing and wider services to address poverty, worklessness and deprivation across urban, rural and coastal communities

Proposal Map

See Devon County Council’s full proposal:

Devon County Council website