LGR Options

Overview

Since Local Government Reorganisation was announced in December 2024, all seven existing councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have collaborated on the development of options for new unitary councils in our area. Our officers worked closely together to build a common evidence base and common datasets where possible, and it was agreed that the development of each option would be led by a different council as Government guidance only permits councils to submit or support one option for LGR. 
 
A shortlist of three options was initially approved by the Leaders and Chief Executives of the existing councils, locally known as Option A (led by Cambridgeshire County Council), Option B (led by Cambridge City Council) and Option C (led by Huntingdonshire District Council). Each of these options would create two new unitary councils for the area using existing district council boundaries as building blocks.  
 
Since then, two further proposals have emerged known locally as Option D and Option E. Each of these options propose creating three new unitary councils for the area. One of these, Option D, would require the existing boundaries of Huntingdonshire District Council to be split. Option D has been led by Peterborough City Council and Option E by Huntingdonshire District Council.  
 
Through the decision-making processes of individual councils over the course of October and November, ultimately Option C was not approved by its lead council, Huntingdonshire District Council which instead opted to endorse Option E. On 28 November 2025, the seven councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough submitted the following options for LGR for the Government to consider. 

Option A

Supported by: Cambridgeshire County Council
Unitary 1: Fenland, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough  
Unitary 2: Cambridge City, East Cambridgeshire, and South Cambridgeshire  

Option B

Supported by: Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council and East Cambridgeshire District Council
Unitary 1: East Cambridgeshire, Fenland, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough
Unitary 2: Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire  

Option D

Supported by: Peterborough City Council and Fenland District Council
Unitary 1: Peterborough and part of Huntingdonshire 
Unitary 2: Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire  
Unitary 3: East Cambridgeshire, Fenland, and part of Huntingdonshire 

Option E

Supported by: Huntingdonshire District Council
Unitary 1: Huntingdonshire
Unitary 2:  East Cambridgeshire, Fenland, and Peterborough
Unitary 3:  Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire