Devon Is Changing – Have Your Say

The Government is running a consultation until 26 March 2026 on proposals for local government reorganization in Devon. Currently both Teignbridge District Council and Devon County Council provides services in Doddiscombsleigh (e.g. refuse collection, social services, roads, transport, planning, etc.), but the current system will be replaced by a unitary council from 2028.

Depending on which option is chosen, the new unitary council(s) can be very different from the current county and district structure.

Five options are consulted by the Government:

1. Devon County Council proposed 3 unitary councils. These would comprise the current areas of: 

• Devon Unitary Council: East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge and West Devon

• Plymouth​ to remain unchanged

• Torbay ​to remain unchanged

2. South Hams District Council, Teignbridge District Council, West Devon Borough Council proposed 3 unitary councils. These would comprise the current areas of: 

• Exeter and Northern Devon Unitary: East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon and Torridge

• Plymouth to remain unchanged

• Torbay and Southern Devon Unitary: South Hams, Teignbridge, Torbay  and West Devon ​

This proposal is shown on the website below as ‘District Councils (main)’.

3. East Devon Borough Council, Mid Devon District Council, North Devon Council, Torridge District Council proposed 3 unitary councils. This includes a request to split existing district council areas between the proposed new councils. These would comprise the current areas of: 

• Exeter and Northern Devon Unitary: East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon, and Torridge

• Plymouth Expanded: Plymouth plus parts of the parishes of Bickleigh, Brixton, Shaugh Prior and Sparkwell from the neighbouring district of South Hams

• Torbay and Southern Devon Unitary: Remaining parts of South Hams, Teignbridge, Torbay ​and West Devon

This proposal is shown on the website below as ‘District Councils (modified)’.

4. Exeter City Council and Plymouth City Council proposed 4 unitary councils. This includes a request to split existing district council areas between the proposed new councils. These would comprise the current areas of: 

• Devon Coast and Countryside: The rest of Devon

• Exeter: Exeter plus 15 parishes from within Teignbridge District Council, 28 parishes from within East Devon District Council and 6 parishes from within Mid-Devon District Council.​
• Plymouth: Plymouth plus 13 parishes from South Hams
• Torbay: Torbay plus 22 parishes from within Teignbridge District Council and South Hams District Council.​

5. Torbay Council proposed 4 unitary councils. This includes a request to split existing district council areas between the proposed new councils. These would comprise the current areas of: 

• Exeter Council: Exeter plus 15 parishes from within Teignbridge District Council, 28 parishes from within East Devon District Council and 6 parishes from within Mid Devon District Council

• Plymouth Council: Plymouth plus 13 parishes from South Hams

• Rural Devon Coast and Countryside Council: The rest of Devon

• Torbay Council to remain unchanged

Further details about the proposals and survey