Why we believe in the Strength of Three

City, coast, countryside. Three distinctive places with different economic opportunities, different demographics, different geographies and different challenges.

Our shared proposal to create three unitary councils - one for Greater Norwich, one for East Norfolk and one for West Norfolk - best represents local identity and unlocks the full potential of these areas, while respecting their distinct economies, communities and needs.

Our proposal includes:

Three local authorities which are of significant size and scale.
Three authorities whose communities are different, with distinct needs best served by bespoke local public services
Three authorities which reflect the differences across our county - from city to coast to countryside.
Three authorities which have economic opportunities which, alongside our partners, can unlock new homes, new skills and new jobs for local people.
Three authorities which are financially sustainable, safe and legal, with real opportunities to drive efficiencies, savings and local benefit.
Three local authorities which move into annual surplus from year 4, following some transition costs which initially outweigh savings.

Informed by you

Thank you to everybody, over 5,000 of you, who took part in our Future Norfolk survey and engagement events during the Summer.

Overall, the feedback from local people shows a value for accountability and access to decision-makers, services that reflect local needs and identities, and a structure that can manage resources well, plan ahead and adapt without creating unnecessary complexity.

Informed by partners

Our partner organisations asked that existing strengths are protected and that essential services are not disrupted. They also identified opportunities for improvement, including stronger collaboration, clearer accountability and arrangements that reflect local priorities.

Supported by MP's

This proposal for three councils is supported by the following Members of Parliament:

Steffan Aquarone (Liberal Democrat) for North Norfolk
George Freeman (Conservative) for Mid Norfolk
Terry Jermy (Labour) for South West Norfolk
Clive Lewis (Labour) for Norwich South
Rupert Lowe (Independent) for Great Yarmouth
Alice Macdonald (Labour) for Norwich North
Adrian Ramsay (Green) for Waveney Valley
James Wild (Conservative) for North West Norfolk

Why this is best for Norfolk

People

We believe that having three unitary councils in Norfolk means you will be represented by councillors who live closer to your area. This helps keep decisions local - made by people who understand your community and what matters to you.

Three unitary councils will give Norfolk more strong voices to speak up for our county at a regional and national level. It supports local democracy, helps decisions get made faster, and makes sure communities can have their say.

We saw from the survey that many of you placed high importance on accountability and access to decision-makers. The responses we received suggest a strong expectation that councils remain visible and approachable, with clear routes for people to raise issues and understand how decisions are made.

A large majority of around 3,600 respondents said it is "very important" to know what their councillors are doing and to have a say, while fewer than 300 felt this was "not very" or "not at all important".

Nearly 3,700 people said that being able to easily contact their councillor and have their concerns listened to is "very important" with around a further 800 saying it was "quite important".

Just over 3,600 respondents stressed that decisions should be made by people who know their community with about 800 rating this as "quite important".

Place

Norfolk isn't the same everywhere. Our city, towns, and villages are all different, each with their own strengths and challenges. What works well in one place might not work in another.

That's why three unitary councils will support each area in its own way. It means services can focus on what matters most to local people and we can play to the strengths of each area - whether that's tourism, farming, business, culture, or education - so every part of Norfolk can thrive doing what it does best.

In the survey, you placed a strong emphasis on the councils delivering services that reflect community needs, protect local identity and support the local economy. The findings also underlined that while efficiency matters, it should not come at the expense of what makes each place in Norfolk distinct.

Meeting community needs was the most emphatic result across the "Place" questions: more than 4,200 respondents said it is "very important" that council services align with what their community currently needs and only around 100 people felt it was "not very" or "not at all important".

Protecting history and culture was rated "very important" by 3,571 respondents with a further 889 saying it was "quite important".

Almost 3,700 respondents highlighted that helping local businesses to succeed - including tourism, farming, logistics and local shops - is "very important" with close to 900 more describing it as "quite important".

Progress

As these changes to local government would be the most significant in over 50 years, it's more important than ever to get it right for you - not just for today, but for future generations too.

Our proposal for three unitary councils in Norfolk means we will put structures in place that are big enough to work well and save money, but still agile enough to stay flexible to other national changes while maintaining our local focus.

These councils will be able to grow and adapt to what communities need over time, to make the most of new opportunities, and manage money carefully but strategically. We believe it is a plan that can last and support Norfolk now and in the future.

During our survey, financial sustainability emerged as your single strongest concern. The results show that residents expect councils to manage resources well, plan ahead and remain resilient in the face of change.

Over 4,300 respondents said it is "very important" that any new council can afford to provide and maintain services, with just 400 describing this as "quite important" and virtually no one rating it unimportant.

More than 4,100 respondents emphasised that a new council must be run as efficiently as possible while planning for future community needs with a further 600 saying it was "quite important".

Around 3,700 respondents highlighted flexibility as "very important" ensuring councils can respond to changing pressures with another 900 considering it "quite important".

Greater Norwich

Greater Norwich is the economic engine of Norfolk and Suffolk, a city-region with international reach, world-class institutions, and a distinctive blend of creativity, science, and civic ambition. It generates £9.9bn, supports 158,000 jobs, and hosts more than 10,500 businesses.

Since 2010, its economy has grown by 64%, making it one of the fastest-growing areas in East Anglia. However, much of this growth extends beyond the city's 1974 boundaries, with over half of its economic output and nearly half of its jobs located in Broadland and South Norfolk - areas where residents currently have little say in shaping the future of the city they rely on.

The city also has a unique social profile. It is younger, more diverse, and more densely populated than the rest of Norfolk. A thriving graduate population sits alongside some stark inequalities: more than a third of children live in poverty and there is a 15-year life expectancy gap across the area.

Creating a Greater Norwich unitary authority, with boundaries that reflect the city's true footprint without extending into rural Norfolk, would unlock further growth in this creative, scientific, and knowledge-driven hub.

A unitary authority would enable coordinated action to tackle challenges while capitalising on the area's position as a national leader in life sciences, cultural innovation, the creative industries, and knowledge-intensive employment. By integrating housing, health, and resident support under one system, decisions could be made closer to communities, addressing both entrenched urban deprivation and hidden needs in rapidly growing suburbs.

East Norfolk

East Norfolk enjoys not only a thriving tourism sector but also a nationally important role in the UK's energy future. Offshore wind, carbon capture, pan-European energy transmission, and the emerging hydrogen sector are anchored by Great Yarmouth's Energy Coast and the Bacton Energy Hub. Inland, supply chains in manufacturing and engineering, including at Hethel Engineering Centre, strengthen this diverse economy alongside attractions like the Norfolk Broads National Park, attractive market towns, and agricultural production.

While East Norfolk is an area that encompasses a number of prosperous market towns, it is also an area which includes areas of significant deprivation and exclusion, coastal erosion, rural isolation, and limited job opportunities. An ageing population and health inequalities add further pressure.

To meet these needs, East Norfolk requires locally focused solutions, not a "one size fits all" approach within a larger authority. Through innovation, digital transformation, and better use of data, the area can design flexible services that support ageing well, improve skills, expand digital access, and link housing growth with job creation - unlocking productivity and opportunity for all.

West Norfolk

West Norfolk has a unique economy and needs which differ from other parts of Norfolk. Geographically, West Norfolk is a gateway to Cambridgeshire, the Midlands, and Lincolnshire, with strong transport and trade links, including King's Lynn Port and a direct rail link to Cambridge and London. Its contribution therefore risks being overlooked if it is merged into a larger authority that does not reflect its distinct needs.

The area benefits from a strong industrial base in manufacturing and engineering around King's Lynn and Thetford, productive farmland supported by agri-tech, and a growing visitor economy thanks to historic market towns, countryside, and coast. The presence of the Armed Forces also plays an important role.

The area also faces social challenges. With an older population than the national average, residents experience higher levels of poor health, isolation, and frailty. There are employment issues too, such as low pay and limited opportunities in some sectors.

Addressing this requires a locally focused approach. An Early Intervention and Prevention strategy is proposed, centred on "ageing well." This would bring together housing, health, work, and family support in a joined-up way. Multi-disciplinary teams would ensure residents receive seamless, person-centred care without having to repeatedly explain their circumstances.

The proposed new West authority brings together the areas currently served by the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, Breckland District Council and a small part of South Norfolk. A new Town Council for King's Lynn will address the current democratic deficit and provide direct, place-based representation.