Labour MPs back plan to make Exeter a standalone unitary authority

Devon’s three Labour MPs, including Exeter MP Steve Race, have announced their support for a major reorganisation of local government that would see Exeter become a larger, standalone unitary authority. 

The proposal, submitted jointly by Exeter City Council and Plymouth City Council following an extensive public consultation, sets out plans to replace the current two-tier system with four new unitary authorities. 

Under the model, Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay would each take on expanded boundaries and full unitary powers, while the remaining rural and coastal areas would be combined into a new “Devon Coast and Countryside” authority.

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According to the MPs, the proposal reflects the county’s natural communities and economic geography, while giving councils a more sustainable financial base. 

In their letter to the Secretary of State, the MPs wrote: “This proposal works with the natural communities and the economic geography of Devon. It allows for growth and opportunity, rather than constraining our cities and their economies.”

“It strengthens generations of city-based self-governance, supporting the Government’s goal of bringing services and decision-making closer to communities, instead of diluting local identity in large incoherent authorities.”

They argue that aligning boundaries with how people live and work would improve local services, strengthen decision-making and ensure areas with distinct needs receive focused support.

Steve Race said the plans represent a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” for Exeter. He contrasted the submission from the city and Plymouth with Devon County Council’s alternative, which he said “once again proposes to abolish 2,000 years of Exeter’s self-governance”. 

Mr. Race argued that an expanded Exeter unitary authority would unlock new opportunities for jobs, housing, innovation and investment, and ensure new developments on the edge of the city are built with the right infrastructure.

His Plymouth colleagues, Luke Pollard and Fred Thomas, also backed the proposals.

Mr Pollard said local government reorganisation “doesn’t sound very exciting, but it really matters”, adding that the plan would support growth in Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay while providing a viable future for a new Devon-wide authority. 

Mr Thomas said the model “strikes the right balance between financial sustainability and fairness” and ensures no community is left behind.

The MPs have now written to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed OBE MP, urging him to approve the proposals. 

They noted the amount of work undertaken by Exeter and Plymouth City Councils, saying the submission is backed by “robust evidence and detailed public consultation”.

The Government is expected to review the proposals in the coming months.