Options for Local Government Reorganisation | East Cambridgeshire District Council

On 11 June 2025, council leaders announced they had three preferred options to establish new unitary councils across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough: Three options announced for council reorganisation plans

Since then, a fourth ‘Greater Peterborough’ option has been put forward by Peterborough City Council, and a fifth ‘Huntingdonshire’ option by Huntingdonshire District Council.

Proposal	Unitary 1	Unitary 2	Unitary 3
Proposal A: North-West /South-West	Peterborough City, Fenland District, Huntingdonshire District and County Council functions	Cambridge City, East Cambridgeshire District, South Cambridgeshire District and County Council functions	Not applicable
Proposal B: North / South	Peterborough City, East Cambridgeshire District, Fenland District, Huntingdonshire District and County Council functions	Cambridge City, South Cambridgeshire District and County Council functions	Not applicable
Proposal C: East / West	Peterborough City, East Cambridgeshire District, Fenland District and County Council functions	Cambridge City, Huntingdonshire District, South Cambridgeshire District and County Council functions	Not applicable
Proposal D: Greater Peterborough / Mid Cambridgeshire / Greater Cambridgeshire	Peterborough City, West Huntingdonshire District and County Council functions	East Cambridgeshire District, Fenland District, East Huntingdonshire District and County Council functions	Cambridge City, South Cambridgeshire District and County Council functions
Proposal E: Huntingdonshire unitary	Huntingdonshire District and County Council functions	Peterborough City, East Cambridgeshire District, Fenland District and County Council functions	Cambridge City, South Cambridgeshire District and County Council functions

Each of these options would lead to the creation of new unitary councils. In future, these councils would be responsible for providing all local government services across the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area and would replace all seven existing local authorities.

All five options are being developed and may all be submitted as proposals to national government by 28 November 2025. Each option has different strengths and different implications for services, local communities, and businesses.

You can find out more about the Options and which councils are supporting the development of which business plan below. We will add more details to this, such as the council reports and the business plans themselves as they become available.

Early in 2026 national government will consult the public on its preferred proposal(s), before deciding which one to take forward in July 2026.

Option A

Business case development lead - Cambridgeshire County Council

You can read more about Option A on County Council's website.

Council report: A Paper on Local Government Reorganisation was submitted to the County Council Committee Meeting on 21 October 2025.

Option A business case - to be supplied

Option B

Business case development lead - Cambridge City Council

Option B is being supported by Cambridge City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

You can read more about Option B on:

The three councils are compiling a joint business plan. This will be brought before East Cambridgeshire District Council's Full Council on 20 November.

Option B business case and appendices