TALKS have been held between council leaders in Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire about the creation of a new strategic authority.

The biggest shake-up of local government in a generation sees the Government pressing ahead with its devolution plans with the formation of strategic authorities – regional bodies led by elected mayors with decision-making powers over transport, economy and infrastructure.

This could see Herefordshire link up with three bordering ‘Shire’ counties, historically referred to as the Three Counties, in a bid to form a ‘growth corridor’ between Birmingham and Bristol.

However, Worcester City Council leader Lynn Denham and Malvern Hills District Council leader John Gallagher wants their authorities to link up with Wychavon District Council to form a south Worcestershire unitary council with about 330,000 residents.

Councillors Denham and Gallagher said: “We’ve been talking to our neighbours in Herefordshire, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire about the potential for forming a new strategic authority.

“This is an opportunity to develop a distinct shires identity which would form a significant growth corridor contributing positively to the need for national renewal.”

While Herefordshire is already a unitary authority, reorganisation in Gloucestershire will involve replacing the existing county council and six borough and district councils with one or two new councils, before it can enter into discussions with any proposed mergers to form a unitary authority.

The government consultation on local government reorganisation ends this, Thursday, March 26 and a decision is expected in summer 2026, with elections planned for May 2027.