View source for Unitary authorities of England

{{short description|Local government in some parts of England}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox subdivision type
| map              = English unitary authorities map 2023.svg
| name              = Unitary authority area
| alt_name          = 
| category          = [[Districts of England|Local authority districts]]
| territory         = England
| upper_unit        = [[Regions of England|Regions]]
| current_number    = 62
| number_date       = 2023
| legislation_begin = 
| start_date        = 
| start_date1       = 
| population_range  = 40,000–600,000
| area_range        = 
| exofficio         = 
| type              = Coterminous [[non-metropolitan county]] and [[non-metropolitan district]] (56)
| type1             = Non-metropolitan district of [[Berkshire]] (6)
| type2             = 
| type3             = 
| status            = [[City status in the United Kingdom|City]] 
| status1           = [[Royal borough]]
| status2           = [[Borough status in England and Wales|Borough]]
| status3           = 
}}
{{Politics of England}}
In England, a  '''unitary authority''' or '''unitary council'''<ref name="hoc">{{cite web |last1=Sandford |first1=Mark |title=Unitary local government: An explainer |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/unitary-local-government-an-explainer/ |website=House of Commons Library |date=24 November 2020}}</ref><ref name=lga_how>{{cite web |title=How is local government organised? {{!}} Local Government Association |url=https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/online-and-hybrid-meetings/councillor-hub/introduction-local-government/how-local |website=www.local.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> is a type of [[local government|local authority]] responsible for all [[Local government in England|local government services]] in an area. They combine the functions of a [[non-metropolitan county]] council and a [[non-metropolitan district]] council, which elsewhere in England provide two tiers of local government.

The district that is governed by a unitary authority is commonly referred to as a '''unitary authority area'''<ref>{{cite web |title=The Land Charges (Amendment) Rules 2012 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/2884/schedule/1/made |website=www.legislation.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Power to the People – Your guide to local councils, the benefits they can bring to your area and how you can create one |url=https://moderngov.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ecminutes/documents/s8941/Power%20to%20the%20People%20separate%20booklet.pdf |publisher=NALC |date=2010}}</ref> or '''unitary area'''.<ref name=lga_how/><ref>{{cite web |title=The Local Government (Structural Changes) (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/930/memorandum/contents}}</ref> The terms '''unitary district''' and, for those which are coterminous with a county, '''unitary county''' are also sometimes used.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gazetteer of British Place Names |url=https://gazetteer.org.uk/lamap |website=gazetteer.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Local Authorities (Goods and Services) (Public Bodies) (Trunk Roads) (No. 2) Order 1996 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1814/made}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/55/part/2/chapter/1 | title=Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 c. 55 Part 2 Chapter 1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Oxfordshire County Council Strategic Financial Case for a Unitary Council |url=https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/documents/s28402/Oxfordshire%20Financial%20Case%20for%20Unitary%20v2%200.pdf |publisher=Ernst & Young}}</ref> The term unitary authority is also sometimes used to refer to the area governed, such as in the [[ISO 3166-2:GB]] standard defining a taxonomy for subdivisions of the UK,<ref>{{cite web |title=Standard: ISO 3166 — Codes for the representation of names of countries and their subdivisions |url=https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:code:3166:GB |website=www.iso.org}}</ref> and in colloquial usage.<ref name=hansard-davey>{{cite web |title=House of Commons Standing Committee A (pt 11) |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmstand/a/st021210/pm/21210s11.htm |website=publications.parliament.uk |quote=I live in a unitary authority&mdash;a London borough&mdash;and if I were given the choice, I, personally, would vote to move to a unitary authority.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Courts and Tribunal Services (England and Wales) - Hansard - UK Parliament |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2015-09-17/debates/15091732000004/CourtsAndTribunalServices(EnglandAndWales)?highlight=%22in%20the%20unitary%20authority%22#contribution-15091739000020 |website=hansard.parliament.uk |language=en |date=19 January 2025 |quote=...not a single court will remain in the unitary authority of North Lincolnshire}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Eton College forced to close after Thames Water sewers which serve area around prestigious school flood |url=https://news.sky.com/story/eton-college-forced-to-close-after-thames-water-sewers-which-serve-area-around-prestigious-school-flood-13045536 |work=Sky News |language=en | quote=The delayed start of term at the school in the unitary authority of Windsor and Maidenhead, in the ceremonial county of Berkshire}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wild |first1=Rose |title=Sophisticated was an insult — and then it flipped |url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/sophisticated-was-an-insult-and-then-it-flipped-37gxp5pwq |work=www.thetimes.com |date=9 February 2024 |language=en |quote=Swansea used to be in a county called ‘west Glamorgan’ but this hasn’t existed since 1996 when the old counties were replaced by 22 unitary authorities. Swansea is currently in the unitary authority of ‘Swansea’.}}</ref>

Unitary authorities are constituted under the [[Local Government Act 1992]], which amended the [[Local Government Act 1972]] to allow the existence of non-metropolitan counties that do not have multiple districts. Most were [[Local Government Commission for England (1992)|established during the 1990s]], with more [[2009 structural changes to local government in England|created in 2009]] and [[2019/2020 structural changes to local government in England|2019–23]]. The size of the areas governed by unitary authorities varies greatly; the authorities created in the 1990s were generally created from single districts and covered a single large town or city, while those created since 2009 often cover entire non-metropolitan counties.

In addition to the authorities created under the 1992 act, the term unitary authority has also been used in a broader sense that is inclusive of all single-tier councils, such as those for [[London boroughs]] and [[metropolitan boroughs]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sandford |first1=Mark |title=Unitary local government |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9056/CBP-9056.pdf |website=House of Commons Library}}</ref><ref name=hansard-davey/>

==History==

===Background===
The term "[[unitary authority]]" was first used in the [[Redcliffe-Maud Report]] in 1969 in its current sense of a local government authority which combines the functions of a county council and a district council.<ref>[[Redcliffe-Maud Report]] I. vi 73, cited in [[Oxford English Dictionary]] Online, draft addendum February 2003, s.v. ''unitary''. An earlier citation, in 1936, uses the term for the [[London County Council]] in the sense of an elected council for the whole of London.</ref> Strictly speaking, the term does not necessarily mean a single level of local government within an area, because in some cases there are also [[Parish councils in England|parish councils]] in the same area.

Although the term was not applied to them, [[county borough]]s between 1889 and 1974 were effectively unitary authority areas, that is, single-tier administrative units.  Before 1889, local government authorities had different powers and functions, but from medieval times some cities and towns had a high degree of autonomy as [[county corporate|counties corporate]]. Some smaller settlements also enjoyed some degree of autonomy from regular administration as [[borough]]s or [[Liberty (division)|liberties]].

The [[Local Government Act 1972]] created areas for local government where large towns and their rural hinterlands were administered together. The concept of unitary units was abandoned with a two-tier arrangement of county and district councils in all areas of England, except the [[Isles of Scilly]] where the small size and distance from the mainland made it impractical. In 1986 a broadly unitary system of local government was introduced in the six [[metropolitan county|metropolitan counties]] and [[Greater London]], where the upper-tier authorities were abolished and their functions were split between central government, the borough councils and joint boards.<ref name=atkinson>{{ cite book |author1=Atkinson, H.  |author2=Wilks-Heeg, S.  |name-list-style=amp | title=Local Government from Thatcher to Blair | year=2000 | publisher=Polity}}</ref>

===1990s reform===
{{main|Local Government Commission for England (1992)}}
A review in the 1990s was initiated to select non-metropolitan areas where new unitary authorities could be created.<ref name=politics_uk>{{ cite book | title=Politics UK | year=2004 | publisher=Pearson | edition=5th | author= Jones, Kavanagh, Moran & Norton}}</ref> The resulting structural changes were implemented between 1995 and 1998. Bristol, Herefordshire, the Isle of Wight and Rutland were established as counties of a single district; the county administration of Berkshire was dissolved, though the county legally preserved to retain for its territory its [[List of place names with royal styles in the United Kingdom|royal]] designation, and each of its district councils became unitary; the counties of [[Avon (county)|Avon]], [[Humberside]] and [[Cleveland (county)|Cleveland]] were broken up to create several unitary authorities; and a number of districts were split off from their associated counties.<ref name=atkinson/> The changes caused the [[ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial counties]] to be defined separately, as they had been before 1974. The review caused 46 unitary authorities to be created.<ref name=atkinson/>

===2009 changes===
{{main|2009 structural changes to local government in England}}
A further review was initiated in 2007 and was enacted in 2009. The review established Cornwall and Northumberland as counties of a single district; established unitary authorities in [[County Durham]], [[Shropshire]] and [[Wiltshire]] covering the part of the county that was not already split off in the 1990s review; and divided the remainder of [[Bedfordshire]] and [[Cheshire]] into two unitary authority areas. The review caused nine unitary authorities to be created.

===Further reform and 2019−2023 changes===
{{Seealso|2019–2023 structural changes to local government in England}}
In 2017, it was proposed that two unitary authority areas be formed to cover the ceremonial county of [[Dorset]]. One of the authorities would consist of the existing unitary authorities of [[Borough of Bournemouth|Bournemouth]], [[Borough of Poole|Poole]] and the non-metropolitan district of [[Christchurch, Dorset|Christchurch]], the other would be composed of the remainder of the county.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://futuredorset.co.uk/|title=Future Dorset – Two new authorities for Dorset|website=futuredorset.co.uk|access-date=20 September 2018}}</ref> In November 2017, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, [[Sajid Javid]] stated that he was "minded to approve the proposals" and a final decision to implement the two unitary authority model was confirmed in February 2018. Statutory instruments for the creation of two unitary authorities, to be named [[Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council]] and [[Dorset Council (UK)|Dorset Council]], have been made and shadow authorities for the new council areas were formed ahead of their [[2019_structural_changes_to_local_government_in_England|creation on 1 April 2019]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2018/9780111168134/contents|title=The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole (Structural Changes) Order 2018|website=www.legislation.gov.uk|access-date=20 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dorsetareacouncils.wordpress.com/|title=Shadow Dorset Council|website=Shadow Dorset Council|access-date=20 September 2018}}</ref>

[[Buckinghamshire County Council]] and the non-metropolitan districts of [[Aylesbury Vale]], [[Chiltern District|Chiltern]], [[South Bucks]], and [[Wycombe District|Wycombe]] in [[Buckinghamshire]] were replaced by a single unitary authority known as [[Buckinghamshire Council]] on 1 April 2020. The existing unitary authority of [[Borough of Milton Keynes|Milton Keynes]] was not affected; from 1 April 2020, therefore, the ceremonial county of [[Buckinghamshire]] has been composed of two unitary authority areas.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-46078569 Buckinghamshire unitary council plan gets go-ahead] from [[BBC News]]</ref><ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/957/contents/made The Buckinghamshire (Structural Changes) Order 2019]</ref>

In March 2018, an independent report commissioned by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, proposed structural changes to local government in [[Northamptonshire]]. These changes would see the existing county council and district councils abolished and two new unitary authorities created in their place.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-40610349|title=Troubled council 'should be scrapped'|work=BBC News|date=15 March 2018|access-date=20 September 2018}}</ref> One authority, [[West Northamptonshire]], would consist of the existing districts of [[Daventry District|Daventry]], [[Northampton]] and [[South Northamptonshire]] and the other authority, [[North Northamptonshire]] would consist of [[Corby (borough)|Corby]], [[East Northamptonshire]], [[Borough of Kettering|Kettering]] and [[Borough of Wellingborough|Wellingborough]] districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2018-03-15/northamptonshire-county-council-should-be-split-up-finds-damning-report/|title=Northamptonshire County Council 'should be split up', finds damning report|website=itv.com|date=15 March 2018|access-date=20 September 2018}}</ref> This was confirmed in May 2019, with the new councils being created in April 2021.

In July 2021 the [[Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government]] announced that in April 2023, the non-metropolitan counties of [[Cumbria]], [[North Yorkshire]] and [[Somerset]] would be reorganised into unitary authority areas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Next steps for new unitary councils in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/next-steps-for-new-unitary-councils-in-cumbria-north-yorkshire-and-somerset |website=GOV.UK |access-date=20 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The new authorities, [[Cumberland (district)|Cumberland]], [[Westmorland and Furness]], [[North Yorkshire Council]] and [[Somerset Council]] were first elected in May 2022 and formally assumed their powers on 1 April 2023.

===English Devolution Bill===
{{further|2024–present structural changes to local government in England}}
The [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] returned to power following the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], and in her [[October 2024 United Kingdom budget|Autumn budget statement]], Chancellor of the Exchequer [[Rachel Reeves]] outlined that a forthcoming [[English Devolution Bill]] would include plans for "working with councils to move to simpler structures that make sense for their local areas", suggesting that a new round of local government reorganisation could be likely.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-30 |title=Budget: LGR confirmed in high tax, high spend Budget |url=https://www.themj.co.uk/budget-lgr-confirmed-tax-spend-budget |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=www.themj.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-30 |title=Budget 2024: Local government on path to reorganisation |url=https://www.highwaysmagazine.co.uk/Budget-2024-Local-government-on-path-to-reorganisation/14183 |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Highways Magazine |language=en}}</ref>

In February 2025 [[Jim McMahon]], the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, wrote to all two-tier and unitary councils in England stating that all local government will move to a unitary system with new council areas having a target population of at least 500,000. Councils were invited to work together and submit an interim plan by 21 March 2025 and a final proposal for reorganisation by 28 November 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-reorganisation-invitation-to-local-authorities-in-two-tier-areas|title=Local government reorganisation: invitation to local authorities in two-tier areas|author=[[Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government]]|date=6 February 2025|accessdate=2 March 2025}}</ref>

==Restructuring==
The process of changing from a two-tier local government to a structure based on unitary authorities is called 'restructuring'. The Secretary of State responsible for local government invites proposals from local areas to restructure into unitary authorities, and the Secretary decides whether or not the change should be implemented. The restructuring is carried out by an Order. There are no examples in the UK of councils restructuring back into a two-tier system.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9056/ |title=Unitary local government |last=Sandford |first=Mark |date=22 July 2021 |publisher=House of Commons Library |access-date=21 March 2022}}</ref>

==Functions==
Unitary authorities combine the powers and functions that are normally delivered separately by the councils of non-metropolitan counties and non-metropolitan districts. These functions are housing, waste management, waste collection, council tax collection, education, libraries, social services, transport, planning, consumer protection, licensing, cemeteries and crematoria. The breakdown of these services is as follows:<ref>Frequently Asked Questions on the structural reviews of Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk, Boundary Commission for England</ref>

{{Non-metropolitan local authority functions}}

==Criticism==
Unitary government has been criticised for damaging local democracy. Opponents to unitary authority criticise the 'bigger is better' assumption and highlight that larger councils breed mistrust of councillors and reduction in public engagement and voter turnout. Outside the UK, [[Multi-level governance|multi-level local government]] is the prevailing system, with major towns normally having a local authority. The average size of a local authority in England is 170,000, three times that of Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-06 |title=Unitary authorities: the larger local government becomes, the greater the damage to local democracy |url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/unitary-councils/ |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=British Politics and Policy at LSE}}</ref>

==Electoral arrangements==
Most unitary authority areas are divided into a number of multiple member [[Wards of the United Kingdom|wards]] from which councillors are elected in the same way as in two-tier district council elections. The exceptions, which are divided into electoral divisions as in county council elections, are Cornwall, County Durham, the Isle of Wight, Northumberland, Shropshire and Wiltshire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/help.html|title=Help using the election maps apps|website=openspace.ordnancesurvey.co.uk|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref>

==Current list==
Districts are usually named after a town, city, geographical area or county (historic and or ceremonial). With no effect on powers or functions, districts can have the status of [[royal borough]], [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough]] or [[City status in the United Kingdom|city]]. A district having a charter is dependent on the charter's wording: as a [[charter trustee]] to a place in the district; having joint charter to the place and district or to the district itself.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Unitary authority area !! Council !! Created !! Other status !! Ceremonial county
|-
| [[Bath and North East Somerset]]<ref name="Avon">{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/493/contents/made|title=The Avon (Structural Change) Order 1995|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Bath and North East Somerset Council]] || 1996 || || [[Somerset]]
|-
| [[Borough of Bedford|Bedford]]<ref name="Beds">{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/907/contents/made|title=The Bedfordshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Bedford Borough Council]] || 2009 || Borough || [[Bedfordshire]]
|-
| [[Blackburn with Darwen]]<ref name="Lancs">{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1868/contents/made|title=The Lancashire (Boroughs of Blackburn and Blackpool) (Structural Change) Order 1996|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council]] || 1998 || Borough || [[Lancashire]]
|-
| [[Borough of Blackpool|Blackpool]]<ref name="Lancs"/> || [[Blackpool Council]] || 1998 || Borough || [[Lancashire]]
|-
| [[Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole]]<ref name="Dorset">{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/648/contents/made|title=The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole (Structural Changes) Order 2018|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref> || [[Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council]] || 2019 || Borough || [[Dorset]]
|-
| [[Bracknell Forest]]<ref name="Berks">{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1879/contents/made|title=The Berkshire (Structural Change) Order 1996|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Bracknell Forest Borough Council]] || 1998 || Borough || [[Berkshire]]
|-
| [[Brighton and Hove]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/1770/contents/made|title=The East Sussex (Boroughs of Brighton and Hove) (Structural Change) Order 1995|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Brighton and Hove City Council]] || 1997 || City || [[East Sussex]]
|-
| [[City of Bristol|Bristol]]<ref name="Avon"/> || [[Bristol City Council]] || 1996 || City || [[Bristol]]
|-
| [[Buckinghamshire (district)|Buckinghamshire]]<ref name="Buckinghamshire">{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/957/contents/made|title=The Buckinghamshire (Structural Changes) Order 2019|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref> || [[Buckinghamshire Council]] || 2020 || N/a<!-- shares name with county -->|| [[Buckinghamshire]]
|-
| [[Central Bedfordshire]]<ref name="Beds"/> || [[Central Bedfordshire Council]] || 2009 || N/a|| [[Bedfordshire]]
|-
| [[Cheshire East]]<ref name="Cheshire08">{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/634/contents/made|title=The Cheshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Cheshire East Council]] || 2009 || Borough || [[Cheshire]]
|-
| [[Cheshire West and Chester]]<ref name="Cheshire08"/> || [[Cheshire West and Chester Council]] || 2009 || N/a || [[Cheshire]]
|-
| [[Cornwall (district)|Cornwall]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/491/contents/made|title=The Cornwall (Structural Change) Order 2008|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Cornwall Council]] || 2009 || N/a || [[Cornwall]]
|-
| [[Cumberland (district)|Cumberland]]<ref name="Cumbria">{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/331/contents/made|title=The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=9 May 2022}}</ref> || [[Cumberland Council]] || 2023 ||  || [[Cumbria]]
|-
| [[County Durham (district)|County Durham]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/493/contents/made|title=The County Durham (Structural Change) Order 2008|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Durham County Council]] || 2009 || N/a || [[County Durham]]
|-
| [[Borough of Darlington|Darlington]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/1772/contents/made|title=The Durham (Borough of Darlington) (Structural Change) Order 1995|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Darlington Borough Council]] || 1997 || Borough || [[County Durham]]
|-
| [[City of Derby|Derby]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/1773/contents/made|title=The Derbyshire (City of Derby)(Structural Change) Order 1995|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref>|| [[Derby City Council]] || 1997 || City || [[Derbyshire]]
|-
| [[Dorset (district)|Dorset]]<ref name="Dorset"/> || [[Dorset Council (UK)|Dorset Council]] || 2019 || N/a<!-- shares name with county --> || [[Dorset]]
|-
| [[East Riding of Yorkshire (district)|East Riding of Yorkshire]]<ref name="Humberside">{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/600/contents/made|title=The Humberside (Structural Change) Order 1995|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[East Riding of Yorkshire Council]] || 1996 || N/a<!-- shares name with county --> || [[East Riding of Yorkshire]]
|-
| [[Borough of Halton|Halton]]<ref name="Cheshire96">{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1863/contents/made|title=The Cheshire (Boroughs of Halton and Warrington) (Structural Change) Order 1996|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Halton Borough Council]] || 1998 || Borough || [[Cheshire]]
|-
| [[Borough of Hartlepool|Hartlepool]]<ref name="Cleveland">{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/187/contents/made|title=The Cleveland (Structural Change) Order 1995|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Hartlepool Borough Council]] || 1996 || Borough || [[County Durham]]
|-
| [[Herefordshire (district)|Herefordshire]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1867/contents/made|title=The Hereford and Worcester (Structural, Boundary and Electoral Changes) Order 1996|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Herefordshire Council]] || 1998 || N/a || [[Herefordshire]]
|-
| [[Isle of Wight]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1994/1210/note/made|title=The Isle of Wight (Structural Change) Order 1994|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Isle of Wight Council]] || 1995 || N/a<!-- shares name with county --> || [[Isle of Wight]]
|-
| [[City of Kingston upon Hull|Kingston upon Hull]]<ref name="Humberside"/> || [[Hull City Council]] || 1996 || City || [[East Riding of Yorkshire]]
|-
| [[City of Leicester|Leicester]]<ref name="Leics">{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/507/contents/made|title=The Leicestershire (City of Leicester and District of Rutland) (Structural Change) Order 1996|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Leicester City Council]] || 1997 || City || [[Leicestershire]]
|-
| [[Borough of Luton|Luton]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/1776/contents/made|title=The Bedfordshire (Borough of Luton) (Structural Change) Order 1995|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Luton Borough Council]] || 1997 || Borough || [[Bedfordshire]]
|-
| [[Medway]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1876/contents/made|title=The Kent (Borough of Gillingham and City of Rochester upon Medway) (Structural Change) Order 1996|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Medway Council]] || 1998 || Borough || [[Kent]]
|-
| [[Borough of Middlesbrough|Middlesbrough]]<ref name="Cleveland"/> || [[Middlesbrough Council]] || 1996 || Borough || [[North Yorkshire]]
|-
| [[Borough of Milton Keynes|Milton Keynes]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/1769/contents/made|title=The Buckinghamshire (Borough of Milton Keynes) (Structural Change) Order 1995|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Milton Keynes Council]] || 1997 || City || [[Buckinghamshire]]
|-
| [[North East Lincolnshire]]<ref name="Humberside"/> || [[North East Lincolnshire Council]] || 1996 || Borough || [[Lincolnshire]]
|-
| [[North Lincolnshire]]<ref name="Humberside"/> || [[North Lincolnshire Council]] || 1996 || Borough || [[Lincolnshire]]
|-
| [[North Northamptonshire]] || [[North Northamptonshire Council]] || 2021 || N/a || [[Northamptonshire]]
|-
| [[North Somerset]]<ref name="Avon"/> || [[North Somerset Council]] || 1996 || N/a || [[Somerset]]
|-
| [[North Yorkshire (district)|North Yorkshire]]<ref name="NYorks">{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/328/contents/made|title=The North Yorkshire (Structural Changes) Order 2022|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=9 May 2022}}</ref> || [[North Yorkshire Council]] || 2023 || N/a<!-- shares name with county --> || [[North Yorkshire]]
|-
| [[Northumberland (district)|Northumberland]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/494/contents/made|title=The Northumberland (Structural Change) Order 2008|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Northumberland County Council]] || 2009 || N/a<!-- shares name with county --> || [[Northumberland]]
|-
| [[City of Nottingham|Nottingham]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1877/contents/made|title=The Nottinghamshire (City of Nottingham) (Structural Change) Order 1996|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Nottingham City Council]] || 1998 || City || [[Nottinghamshire]]
|-
| [[City of Peterborough|Peterborough]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1878/contents/made|title=The Cambridgeshire (City of Peterborough) (Structural, Boundary and Electoral Changes) Order 1996|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Peterborough City Council]] || 1998 || City || [[Cambridgeshire]]
|-
| [[City of Plymouth|Plymouth]]<ref name="Devon">{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1865/contents/made|title=The Devon (City of Plymouth and Borough of Torbay) (Structural Change) Order 1996|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Plymouth City Council]] || 1998 || City || [[Devon]]
|-
| [[City of Portsmouth|Portsmouth]]<ref name="Hants">{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/1775/contents/made|title=The Hampshire (Cities of Portsmouth and Southampton) (Structural Change) Order 1995|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Portsmouth City Council]] || 1997 || City || [[Hampshire]]
|-
| [[Borough of Reading|Reading]]<ref name="Berks"/> || [[Reading Borough Council]] || 1998 || Borough || [[Berkshire]]
|-
| [[Redcar and Cleveland]]<ref name="Cleveland"/> || [[Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council]] || 1996 || Borough || [[North Yorkshire]]
|-
| [[Rutland (district)|Rutland]]<ref name="Leics"/> || [[Rutland County Council]] || 1997 || N/a<!-- shares name with county --> || [[Rutland]]
|-
| [[Shropshire (district)|Shropshire]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/492/contents/made|title=The Shropshire (Structural Change) Order 2008|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Shropshire Council]] || 2009 || N/a || [[Shropshire]]
|-
| [[Borough of Slough|Slough]]<ref name="Berks"/>|| [[Slough Borough Council]] || 1998 || Borough || [[Berkshire]]
|-
| [[Somerset (district)|Somerset]]<ref name="Som">{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/329/contents/made|title=The Somerset (Structural Changes) Order 2022|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=9 May 2022}}</ref> || [[Somerset Council]] || 2023 || N/a<!-- shares name with county --> || [[Somerset]]
|-
| [[City of Southampton|Southampton]]<ref name="Hants"/> || [[Southampton City Council]] || 1997 || City || [[Hampshire]]
|-
| [[City of Southend-on-Sea|Southend-on-Sea]]<ref name="Essex">{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1875/contents/made|title=The Essex (Boroughs of Colchester, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock and District of Tendring) (Structural, Boundary and Electoral Changes) Order 1996|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Southend-on-Sea City Council]] || 1998 || City || [[Essex]]
|- 
| [[South Gloucestershire]]<ref name="Avon"/> || [[South Gloucestershire Council]] || 1996 || N/a || [[Gloucestershire]]
|-
| [[Borough of Stockton-on-Tees|Stockton-on-Tees]]<ref name="Cleveland"/> || [[Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council]] || 1996 || Borough || [[County Durham]] and [[North Yorkshire]]
|-
| [[City of Stoke-on-Trent|Stoke-on-Trent]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/1779/contents/made|title=The Staffordshire (City of Stoke-on-Trent) (Structural and Boundary Changes) Order 1995|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Stoke-on-Trent City Council]] || 1998 || City || [[Staffordshire]]
|-
| [[Borough of Swindon|Swindon]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/1774/contents/made|title=The Wiltshire (Borough of Thamesdown)(Structural Change) Order 1995|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Swindon Borough Council]] || 1997 || Borough || [[Wiltshire]]
|-
| [[Telford and Wrekin]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1866/contents/made|title=The Shropshire (District of The Wrekin) (Structural Change) Order 1996|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Telford and Wrekin Borough Council]] || 1998 || Borough || [[Shropshire]]
|-
| [[Thurrock]]<ref name="Essex"/> || [[Thurrock Council]] || 1998 || Borough || [[Essex]]
|-
| [[Torbay]]<ref name="Devon"/> || [[Torbay Council]] || 1998 || Borough || [[Devon]]
|-
| [[Borough of Warrington|Warrington]]<ref name="Cheshire96"/> || [[Warrington Borough Council]] || 1998 || Borough || [[Cheshire]]
|-
| [[West Berkshire]]<ref name="Berks"/> || [[West Berkshire Council]] || 1998 || District || [[Berkshire]]
|-
| [[West Northamptonshire]] || [[West Northamptonshire Council]] || 2021 || N/a || [[Northamptonshire]]
|-
| [[Westmorland and Furness]]<ref name="Cumbria"/>|| [[Westmorland and Furness Council]] || 2023 || || [[Cumbria]]
|-
| [[Wiltshire (district)|Wiltshire]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/490/contents/made|title=The Wiltshire (Structural Change) Order 2008|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[Wiltshire Council]] || 2009 || N/a || [[Wiltshire]]
|-
| [[Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead|Windsor and Maidenhead]]<ref name="Berks"/> || [[Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council]] || 1998 || Royal borough || [[Berkshire]]
|-
| [[Borough of Wokingham|Wokingham]]<ref name="Berks"/> || [[Wokingham Borough Council]] || 1998 || Borough || [[Berkshire]]
|-
| [[City of York|York]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/610/contents/made|title=The North Yorkshire (District of York) (Structural and Boundary Changes) Order 1995|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> || [[City of York Council]] || 1996 || City || [[North Yorkshire]]
|}
'''Notes'''
{{notelist}}

==Former unitary authorities==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Area !! Authority !! Created !! Dissolved !! Ceremonial County !! Replaced by 
|-
| [[Bournemouth]] || [[Bournemouth Borough Council]]
|rowspan=2|1997 
|rowspan=2| 2019
|rowspan=2| [[Dorset]]
|rowspan=2| [[Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole]]
|-
| [[Poole]] || [[Poole Borough Council]]
|}

==Similar authorities==
The [[Council of the Isles of Scilly]] is a ''[[sui generis]]'' single-tier authority, created in 1890 and since 1930 has held the "powers, duties and liabilities" of a county council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksro/1930/216/pdfs/uksro_19300216_en.pdf|title=Isles of Scilly Order 1930|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref> It thus does not fit the narrower definition of unitary authority as those authorities created under the [[Local Government Act 1992]]. The 36 [[metropolitan borough]] councils are also the sole elected local government units in their areas (except for parish councils in a few locations), but share strategic functions with [[Joint-board|joint boards]] and arrangements. On the other hand, the [[City of London Corporation]] and the 32 [[London borough]] councils, although they have a high degree of autonomy, share strategic functions with the directly elected [[Mayor of London]] and [[London Assembly]].

==Combined authorities==
Unitary authorities should not be confused with another formation in English local government, the [[combined authority]].

==See also==
* [[Local government in England]]
* [[History of local government in England]]
* [[List of unitary authorities of England]] by population
* [[List of county councils in England]]
* [[Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom#Unitary authorities|Political make-up of unitary authorities in England]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Unitary authorities of England}}
{{Former unitary authorities of England}}
{{Administrative geography of the United Kingdom}}
{{Subdivisions of England}}

[[Category:Unitary authorities of England| ]]
[[Category:Local government in England]]
[[Category:England geography-related lists]]