Ivybridge and parishes to be absorbed by Plymouth City Council, Kingswear by Torbay

Plymouth City Council, Torbay Council and Exeter City Council are expanding to absorb South Hams towns and parishes, while the rest of the South Hams will become part of the Devon Coast and Countryside Council and South Hams District Council will cease to exist. 

Plymouth, Torbay and Exeter will all have expanded boundaries, and the rest of the county will be served by a new “Devon Coast and Countryside” council. These councils are set to replace the current two-tier county and district council system used in Devon (South Hams District Council and Devon County Council).

This proposal will result in a substantial part of the South Hams being incorporated into Plymouth (in the west), Torbay (in the east) and the remainder of the district incorporated into the new Devon Coast and Countryside council. Nevertheless, South Hams District Council has released a statement to say it will "continue to work with councils across Devon to ensure a smooth transition and ensure important services continue to be provided to our communities".

Not everyone is supportive of the move. Council Leader, Cllr Dan Thomas, said: “Once again, the Government, has demonstrated its failure to understand or appreciate the needs of Devon’s rural towns and villages or our coastal communities.

“Its decision to go ahead with the expansion of Plymouth, Exeter and Torbay is very much at the expense of the remaining parts of the county, and entirely at odds with its stated aim of ensuring local government reorganisation meets the needs of all of Devon.

“It has failed to implement its plans for the devolution of powers and decision-making to local areas, while ploughing ahead with the reorganisation of local government, which has the potential to undermine the foundations of local democracy and service delivery for years to come. 

“In focusing on top-down housing targets and expanding cities into the surrounding rural areas, which are entirely different in character, and in its flawed obsession with economic growth solely in urban areas, it demonstrates a lack of understanding for what matters for our residents and businesses, and what will actually support growth and prosperity for our area.

“The new Prime Minister in waiting says that he is committed to “good growth in every postcode”. It is a shame therefore that the outgoing ministerial team has pushed on in its final moments with its flawed plans for reorganisation which run entirely counter to those aims.

“Throughout this process, we have made a clear and consistent case that reorganisation must protect the identity, needs and voice of our local communities. I know that many residents in the affected towns and parishes will be concerned about what this means for them, and I understand that. South Hams has a distinctly rural and coastal character, and the interests and priorities of our communities must not be lost in the transition but protected for future generations.

“I am therefore extremely disappointed that the Government has decided on a different option, which will see Plymouth expand into the South Hams. As one of the district councillors representing Newton & Yealmpton, an area directly affected by today’s announcement, this is of particular concern to me, as it will be to all the communities we serve in that part of the district. 

“I am certain that residents, councillors, and parishes in the east of the district will feel the same about the expansion of Torbay.  The notion that Dartmouth should be aligned to Ilfracombe while Kingswear residents become part of Torbay can only be a nonsense.

“However, we recognise the significance of this decision for our residents, businesses and partners across the region, and our priority now is to ensure a smooth, well-managed transition that protects our essential services.

“We will work closely with Devon’s other councils and the Government to secure the best possible outcomes for our communities, ensuring that local identity, local priorities, and local voices remain at the heart of local government here in Devon.

“We will keep residents fully informed as the transition progresses and will continue to deliver high‑quality services throughout the reorganisation period.”

Devon County Council leader Julian Brazil said the county had been "betrayed".

"This is a deceitful decision," he said. "People in Devon, their council tax will be going up and their quality of services will be going down.

"It's also going to cost tens of millions to implement.

"That money is going to be spent on breaking contracts, making people redundant and then rehiring them.

"We're almost certainly going to take it to judicial review."

On the other hand, leader of Exeter City Council, Councillor Phil Bialyk, has welcomed the announcement.

He said: "Local government reorganisation is a unique opportunity to build a brighter future with stronger services and local accountability.

"It simplifies things for residents and communities by just having one tier of local government running services.

"Exeter and Plymouth's joint submission recognised the importance of Devon's growth areas while ensuring all four new councils have the scale to deliver high-quality services. I am delighted the Government has recognised this."

He said there was no immediate change, but people would receive more information in the coming weeks.

Which parishes will be taken over by where? 

Exeter City Council has published a complete list of all of the parishes (South Hams) which will be taken into the expanded areas of Exeter, Torbay and Plymouth.

Plymouth will expand from a current population of 272,000 to 305,000 by taking over the following parishes:

Bickleigh, Brixton, Cornwood, Ermington, Harford, Holberton, Ivybridge, Newton and Noss, Shaugh Prior, Sparkwell, Ugborough, Wembury and Yealmpton.

Torbay will expand from a current population of 140,000 to 232,000 by taking over the following parishes:

Abbotskerswell, Berry Pomeroy, Bishopsteignton, Broadhempston, Coffinswell, Denbury and Torbryan, Haccombe with Combe, Ideford, Ipplepen, Kingskerswell, Kingsteignton, Kingswear, Littlehempston, Marldon, Newton Abbot, Ogwell, Shaldon, Stoke Gabriel, Stokeinteignhead, Teigngrace and Teignmouth.

Exeter will expand from a current population of 138,000 to 260,000 by taking over the following parishes:

Ashcombe, Aylesbeare, Bicton, Brampford Speke, Broadclyst, Budleigh Salterton, Cheriton Bishop, Chudleigh, Clyst Honiton, Clyst Hydon, Clyst St. Lawrence, Clyst St George, Clyst St Mary, Colaton Raleigh, Colebrooke, Cranbrook, Crediton, Crediton Hamlets, Dawlish, Dunchideock, East Budleigh, Exminster, Exmouth, Farringdon, Hittisleigh, Holcombe Burnell, Huxham, Ide, Kenn, Kenton, Lympstone, Mamhead, Netherexe, Newton St Cyres, Otterton, Poltimore, Powderham, Rewe, Rockbeare, Shillingford St George, Sowton, Starcross, Stoke Canon, Tedburn St Mary, Upton Pyne, West Hill, Whimple, Whitestone and Woodbury.