An ambitious blueprint to radically improve council services and outcomes for residents, businesses and visitors across Worcestershire has been approved by Worcester City Council.
Councillors overwhelmingly backed submitting the Transforming Worcestershire Plan to the Government as Worcester’s Local Government Reorganisation proposal at a full Council meeting on Tuesday (25 November).
The plan would see two new unitary councils created - one covering North Worcestershire and one covering South Worcestershire. They would replace the current six district councils and Worcestershire County Council.
The plan delivers on the clear message from the public from this summer’s Shape Worcestershire engagement, which revealed people wanted their local council to continue to be focused on local needs, based close to communities and be responsive. Overall, the two-council plan was backed by 62.5% of people who expressed a view on how local government in Worcestershire should be reorganised.
Bromsgrove District, Malvern Hills District, Worcester City, Redditch Borough and Wychavon District councils have jointly developed the plan, which builds on their successful track record of shared services to deliver lasting financial sustainability, improved outcomes and unlock future opportunities.
Transformation will be delivered through:
- Shifting public services from crisis response to a prevention-focused approach
- Driving long-term financial sustainability through a focus on outcomes
- Creating communities that feel more connected and empowered by keeping decision-making close to them
- Delivering local services that respond faster to everyday issues
- Reshaping support for vulnerable adults so they can live healthier, happier and safer lives
- New approaches to supporting children and families that enable them to stay together
- Providing young people with better access to skills and jobs
- Housing provision that doesn’t just provide shelter but supports healthier lives
- Economic strategies tailored to the needs of people and businesses in local areas, to unlock growth.
Key strategic functions like strategic highways, public health and waste disposal would continue to be delivered as county-wide functions. Both councils would collaborate where it makes sense on parts of adult social care and children’s services. However, they would deliver key services separately to focus on local needs and unlock opportunities for improved outcomes.
The plan is estimated to deliver about £9 million of ongoing savings a year. While this is less than the estimated £21 million a year under the alternative one council option being put forward by Worcestershire County Council and Wyre Forest District Council, the transformation of services could deliver extra savings over time and be more sustainable.
Read the Transforming Worcestershire plan.
The proposal has been compiled in response to the Government’s requirement for Local Government Reorganisation, that is due to bring in major changes to local councils from April 2028.
Councillor Lynn Denham, Leader of Worcester City Council, said: “I am delighted that the Transforming Worcestershire plan has been supported by Worcester city councillors, because this is the only option for local government reorganisation in Worcestershire that has been developed by listening to what local people and partners want.
“We’ve listened to their feedback and we’ve developed a plan that reflects their desires to have services provided at a local level, not a one-size-fits-all approach for the whole county.
“Our two-councils model will reflect local identities and priorities, and allow for collaboration on county-wide services while delivering more effectively at a community level. This is a plan powered by place and built for the future. Alongside the leaders of the other councils that have developed it, I urge the Government to support this positive approach to local government reorganisation in our county.”
Worcester was the last of the five councils to approve the Transforming Worcestershire proposal, which will now be submitted to the Government to meet the deadline of 28 November 2025. The Government will hold a formal consultation on the proposals in the new year, with a final decision expected by July 2026.
Find out more about Local Government Reorganisation in Worcester.
