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The potential names of four new councils that will cover Lancashire from 2028 have been picked by the government, with existing authorities now asked to share their thoughts.
Ministers announced last week how the county would be carved up when its 15 existing local authorities are abolished.
A letter sent to Lancashire's local authority leaders and chief executives this week – seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) – revealed the new names which have been formally signed off by Whitehall. The existing councils now have until 17 August to respond.
The proposed names are North Lancashire Council, South Lancashire Council, Fylde Coast Council and Pennine Lancashire Council.
The councils will be responsible for delivering all local authority services, including education, social care, highways, waste, planning and housing.
The current council areas they cover:
- North Lancashire Council - Preston, Lancaster and Ribble Valley - 373,664 residents
- South Lancashire Council - Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire - 358,947 residents
- Fylde Coast Council - Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre - 348,381 residents
- Pennine Lancashire Council - Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Rossendale and Pendle - 520,563 residents
The current two-tier local government system has been in place since 1974, with the exception of Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council, which became unitary authorities in 1998.
The government announced in December 2024 that it wanted to get rid of the existing system and replace it with smaller unitary authorities, which would control all the services in their areas.
In 2025, all 15 authorities were asked to suggest a way forward and, after they failed to reach an agreement, five options were submitted to the government - ranging from two councils to five.
Elections will be held for the new authorities in May 2027, and they will run in tandem with the existing councils for a year before they are phased out.
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