Devon (district)
Future unitary authority area in England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Devon is expected be a unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of Devon, England. It was planned to be formed on 1 April 2028, with elections to a shadow authority taking place in May 2027.[1] The area was also named Devon Coast and Countryside during the local government reorganisation process.[2]
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Devon | |
|---|---|
Future unitary authority area | |
 Shown within the ceremonial county of Devon | |
 Interactive map | |
| Coordinates: 51.0810°N 4.0583°W | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | England |
| Region | South West |
| Ceremonial county | Devon |
| Incorporated | 1 April 2028 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unitary authority |
| • Body | Devon Council |
| Population (2024 estimate) | |
• Total | 459,795 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
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The district will include the county except the areas of Greater Plymouth, Exeter and Torbay and South Devon, which will have their own unitary authorities. The largest settlement will be Barnstaple,[3] and it will also include Axminster, Bideford, Dartmouth, Honiton, Ilfracombe, Kingsbridge, Tiverton and Totnes.[4] The area includes the majority of Dartmoor and some of Exmoor.[5]
Plans to create it were halted in September 2026 and the first election was cancelled.
Formation
It will be formed from East Devon (minus 28 parishes), Mid Devon (minus 6 parishes), North Devon, South Hams (minus 17 parishes), Teignbridge (minus 32 parishes), Torridge and West Devon.[6] Other portions of these districts will be going to the new unitary authorities of Exeter, Greater Plymouth and Torbay and South Devon.[7]
The district is being formed as part of ongoing local government changes throughout England, in which all areas of the country that have separate county councils and district councils will see those replaced with single-tier, or unitary, local governance.[8] The alternative proposal for four unitaries and three proposals for three unitaries were not accepted.[9] Devon County Council has stated that it plans a judicial review over the decision.[10]
In September 2026, the Devon proposals were halted by the government and placed under review.[11]
Governance
It will be run by Devon Council, which will comprise 103 councillors.[12]
Geography
The district includes a number of protected areas. It includes most of Dartmoor National Park, part of Exmoor National Park, North Devon Coast National Landscape, South Devon National Landscape, East Devon National Landscape and Blackdown Hills National Landscape.[13]
Parishes
Lundy is currently unparished, the rest of the area is parished.[5]