In July 2026, the Government selected a plan to replace the ten councils in Derby and Derbyshire with two unitary councils. On 7 September, it paused implementation while it reviews that decision. Existing council services continue as normal. Read the latest from High Peak Borough Council.

The July plan proposed two new unitary councils covering:

  • North Derbyshire – taking in High Peak, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales, North East Derbyshire, Bolsover, northern part of Amber Valley
  • South Derbyshire – taking in Derby, South Derbyshire, Erewash, southern part of Amber Valley

The July proposal would split Amber Valley between the two areas. The plan and its timetable are now under review. On 2 October 2026, Amber Valley Borough Council said it had sent a pre-action letter to the Government as a first step towards a possible legal challenge. The council said the Derbyshire decision had not been withdrawn; it had not yet decided whether to begin court proceedings.

In a 16 July statement, Derbyshire County Council leader Councillor Alan Graves said: “Local councils were asked to put forward proposals for the future of local government in their area and Government decided that the two-council option proposed by district and borough councils was in the best interests of local residents and businesses.

“Based on our own research and public consultation, we believed that a single council for the whole of Derbyshire was the best option. But we agree that having two councils is better than the current system of 10 as it will save money and be easier for residents to understand.

“Our residents deserve a modern, efficient and effective system of local government that can meet current and future challenges and support the area to grow and prosper, working closely with the East Midlands Combined County Authority. This historic decision brings that vision closer to becoming a reality with two new councils being created to provide all council services in the north and another for the city and south of the county.

“It’s not a merger – it’s a fresh start and an opportunity to do things differently. Now we’re focussed on working with our district, borough and city council colleagues to plan how services in Derby and Derbyshire will be delivered by two councils in the future.”

Derbyshire currently has two tiers of council – the county council is the upper tier and eight district and borough councils are the lower tier. Both are responsible for different services. Derby has a single tier – one council providing all services in the city. This is called a unitary council.

The July plan aimed to replace the existing councils on 1 April 2028, subject to Parliamentary approval. The timetable is now under review.

Under the July plan, the new councils would have provided services including social care, education, roads, bin collections, housing, parks and leisure.

The Government says elections scheduled for May 2027 will go ahead on existing council boundaries. Read the Government’s 7 September update.

Councillor Graves added in July: “There’s still a lot of detail yet to be agreed, such as what the new councils will be called. But we want to reassure residents that the council services they receive will continue as normal in the meantime and we’re working hard to make sure these services continue seamlessly as we switch from 10 councils to two on 1 April 2028.”

For the latest information, visit High Peak Borough Council’s reorganisation update.