A proposal for the creation of three unitary councils spanning Oxfordshire and West Berkshire was today submitted to the Government by Oxford City Council.
The proposal would mean:
- Only having one council to contact for all services
- Tailoring services to the different needs of urban and rural areas
- Savings of £48.6m a year by cutting duplication and merging services
- Building 40,000 new homes within Greater Oxford by 2040
- Growing local economies to create jobs and generate £170bn by 2050
The 3Councils proposal was created with input from thousands of residents, businesses and stakeholders across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, and is backed by evidence and independent expertise.
Public engagement consistently found 69% of residents wanted councils closer to the communities they serve. Business engagement found 68% of companies supporting going beyond Government targets for the delivery of new affordable housing around Oxford.
For more information, visit the 3Councils website.
Comment
“Local government reform is not simply a piece of administrative change. It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape how we deliver for our communities – improving affordability, supporting prosperity and building fairness for generations to come.
“Across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, our councils have a proud record of service, partnership and delivery. From new community and leisure facilities to major infrastructure projects, we have helped create some of the best places to live in the UK – with high employment, low crime and world-leading innovation economies.
“But we also face challenges that demand a new approach: a housing crisis decades in the making, rising demand for care and support, growing pressure on infrastructure, and an economy constrained by outdated boundaries.
“That is why we are putting forward a proposal to abolish Oxfordshire’s six councils and create three new unitary councils – Greater Oxford, Northern Oxfordshire and Ridgeway. This model would simplify local government, make it more effective and financially sustainable, and bring decision-making closer to the people it affects.
“At its heart, this proposal is rooted in place – in the distinct identities and strengths of our communities. The market towns of Banbury, Chipping Norton, Wantage and Witney are very different to Oxford and all deserve to have councils that can focus on the issues that matter to their local residents. The creation of Greater Oxford, Northern Oxfordshire and Ridgeway councils will align decision-making with the geography of people’s lives and the economic realities of our region.
“Each new authority will be responsible for all council services in their area and empowered to deliver better outcomes for residents and businesses. This will simplify things for residents – one council to contact for all services – and reduce duplication.
“But this is not simply about doing things differently; it is about doing them better. By integrating social care, housing and leisure for the first time, we can focus services on early intervention and prevention that helps people manage issues before they get into crisis – unlocking long-term savings of £48m every year.
“A key feature of the proposals is the concentration of homes and growth in Greater Oxford to both enable the economy and end our housing crisis. By releasing just 2.6% of the green belt for development, we could unlock 40,000 new homes, including 16,000 affordable and council homes by 2040. That would be a gamechanger for affordability in a city where rents are now over £1,900 a month. It would also mean homes near to people’s jobs, transport links and families in Oxford – reducing pressure on towns and villages in rural Oxfordshire and allowing them to grow at their own pace. It’s also greener, as it reduces the need for people to commute longer distances to work.
“Independent research by economists at Volterra found that other UK regions cannot match Oxford’s ecosystem of research excellence, deep talent and global firms. If businesses cannot come to Oxford, they will not go to another UK city – they'll go to places like Boston or Silicon Valley. By concentrating world-leading science, computing and AI firms within Greater Oxford, while also enabling growth in places like Harwell, Bicester and Newbury, we can add £170bn to the UK’s economy by 2050 – £43bn more than the unitary county proposal.
“And our model will provide stronger voices for Oxfordshire and West Berkshire. Each of the three councils will have a seat at the Mayoral Strategic Authority, coordinating transport, housing, skills and economic growth across the Thames Valley – ensuring both urban and rural areas have influence alongside Slough, Reading and Swindon.
“This proposal has been shaped through a huge amount of engagement with residents, businesses and partners across the whole geography. Their message is clear: people want councils that are closer, more responsive and more ambitious for their places. The three-unitary model delivers on that vision – empowering people, growing prosperity, and building communities that can thrive long into the future.”
Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council
Next steps
There are two other proposals for local government reorganisation in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire:
- Two unitary councils:
- Oxford and Shires Council – created from the existing city/district councils of Cherwell, Oxford and West Oxfordshire
- Ridgeway Council – created from the existing district councils of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse, and the unitary council of West Berkshire
- A single unitary council for Oxfordshire
The government is expected to consult with residents and stakeholders on all three proposals in early 2026, before deciding on the model in the summer.
The new councils are expected to be created in 2028.
The last time local government was reorganised in Oxfordshire was in 1974.
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